[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 89 (Tuesday, May 12, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E442]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               WORLD PRESS FREEDOM DAY IN THE OSCE REGION

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. ALCEE L. HASTINGS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 12, 2020

  Mr. HASTINGS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to emphasize the urgency of 
global press freedom, particularly across the 57-nation region of the 
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). Earlier 
last week, we celebrated World Press Freedom Day, a day originally 
proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in December 1993 to 
celebrate the fundamental principle of a free and independent press. On 
this day and beyond, we honor journalists and media professionals for 
their tireless service in reporting the truth, sometimes at the risk of 
their own personal safety. World Press Freedom Day serves as an 
important reminder to governments around the world to respect their 
country's commitment to press freedom.
  The U.S. Helsinki Commission, of which I am Chairman, is charged with 
monitoring compliance with human rights and security commitments in the 
OSCE region. Freedom of the press is a foundational commitment to human 
rights and democracy. Unfortunately, however, some leaders view the 
media as a threat and seek to silence individuals and outlets through 
financial, legal, and physical means. What these leaders truly fear is 
that journalists will expose corruption, human rights violations, 
abuses of power, and other undemocratic behavior.
  According to the latest reports from the Committee to Protect 
Journalists, 250 journalists are imprisoned worldwide for their work, 
64 journalists are missing, and 1,369 journalists have been killed 
since 1992. Additionally, Reporters Without Borders' 2020 World Press 
Freedom Index found that global press freedom has deteriorated by 12 
percent since 2013.
  Madam Speaker, I also rise to applaud the undaunted service of the 
OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem De sir. His 
leadership as an independent monitor for these issues among OSCE 
participating States has offered candid review of our collective 
challenges, while demonstrating the importance of OSCE institutions. 
Mr. De sir's team has provided impeccable service to help nations 
implement their international commitments to this end through country 
visits and legislative review, as well as hosting expert conferences. I 
encourage my colleagues to closely follow his work and to learn more 
about his mandate by reviewing the proceedings of the U.S. Helsinki 
Commission hearing I chaired with Mr. De sir on July 25, 2019, 
addressing ``State of Media Freedom in the OSCE Region.''
  Madam Speaker, amid this global pandemic, it is more important than 
ever that journalists and media professionals are able to work freely 
and without retribution. Unfortunately, too many journalists remain in 
jail throughout the OSCE region, while states like Russia, Azerbaijan, 
and Hungary criminalize providing essential information and 
transparency about the COVID-19 pandemic. Independent media continues 
to be assaulted under the pretense of punishing allegedly false, 
misleading, or unofficial information. This is unacceptable.
  Earlier in April, I released statements expressing concern with the 
latest attacks on press freedom in Russia and the unchecked power 
granted to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban amid the coronavirus 
pandemic.
  During these trying times, strong journalism and access to accurate, 
unbiased information are essential tools for countering the spread of 
the disease. I ask my colleagues to join me in urging states to 
recognize the indispensable role of the media during this time and to 
reverse policies that in any way discourage freedom of expression.