,,iii #aacth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 ,,res4 #ddg ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,may #ae1 #bjad ,mr4 ,casey 7for himself and ,mr4 ,rubio7 submitted the following resolution2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,foreign ,relations ,,resolution ,recognizing the threats to freedom of the press and expression around the world and reaffirming freedom of the press as a priority in the efforts of the ,united ,states ,government to promote democracy and good governance4 ,whereas ,article #ai of the ,united ,nations ,universal ,declaration of ,human ,rights1 adopted at ,paris ,december #aj1 #aidh1 states that everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression2 this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek1 receive1 and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers2 ,whereas1 in #aiic1 the ,united ,nations ,general ,assembly proclaimed ,may #c of each year as ,world ,press ,freedom ,day to celebrate the fundamental principles of freedom of the press1 to evaluate freedom of the press around the world1 to defend the media from attacks on its independence1 and to pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the exercise of their profession2 ,whereas1 on ,december #ah1 #bjac1 the ,united ,nations ,general ,assembly adopted a resolution 7,a_/,,res_/#fh_/afc7 on the safety of journalists and the issue of impunity1 which unequivocally condemns all attacks and violence against journalists and media workers1 including torture1 extrajudicial killings1 enforced disappearances1 arbitrary detention1 and intimidation and harassment in both conflict and non-conflict situations2 ,whereas #bjad is the #bast anniversary of ,world ,press ,freedom ,day1 which focuses on the theme ,media ,freedom for a ,better ,future3 ,shaping the ,post-#bjae ,development ,agenda2 ,whereas the ,daniel ,pearl ,freedom of the ,press ,act of #bjji 7,public ,law #aaa-affbb2 ,u4,s4,c4 #baea note71 which was passed by unanimous consent in the ,senate and signed into law by ,president ,barack ,obama in #bjaj1 expanded the examination of freedom of the press around the world in the annual human rights report of the ,department of ,state2 ,whereas1 according to ,reporters ,without ,borders1 #ga journalists and #ci citizen journalists were killed in #bjac in connection with their collection and dissemination of news and information2 ,whereas1 according to the ,committee to ,protect ,journalists1 the #c deadliest countries for journalists on assignment in #bjac were ,syria1 ,iraq1 and ,egypt1 and in ,syria1 the deadliest country for such journalists1 an unprecedented number of journalists were abducted2 ,whereas1 according to the ,committee to ,protect ,journalists1 #fag journalists have been murdered since #aiib without the perpetrators of such crimes facing punishment2 ,whereas1 according to the ,committee to ,protect ,journalists1 the #e countries with the highest number of unsolved journalist murders are ,iraq1 the ,philippines1 ,algeria1 ,colombia1 and ,somalia2 ,whereas1 according to ,reporters ,without ,borders1 #hbf journalists and #abg citizen journalists were arrested in #bjac2 ,whereas1 according to the ,committee to ,protect ,journalists1 #baa journalists worldwide were in prison on ,december #a1 #bjac2 ,whereas1 according to ,reporters ,without ,borders1 the #e countries with the highest number of journalists in prison are ,syria1 ,china1 ,eritrea1 ,turkey1 and ,iran2 ,whereas1 according to ,reporters ,without ,borders1 the ,government of ,syria and extremist rebel militias have intentionally targeted journalists1 causing dramatic repercussions for the freedom of the press throughout the region2 ,whereas the ,government of the ,russian ,federation has engaged in an unprecedented campaign to silence the independent press and undermine freedom of expression1 including its recent efforts to destabilize ,ukraine2 ,whereas freedom of the press is a key component of democratic governance1 the activism of civil society1 and socioeconomic development2 and ,whereas freedom of the press enhances public accountability1 transparency1 and participation3 ,now1 therefore1 be it ,that the ,senate-- 7#a7 expresses concern about the threats to freedom of the press and expression around the world following ,world ,press ,freedom ,day1 held on ,may #c1 #bjad2 7#b7 commends journalists and media workers around the world for their essential role in promoting government accountability1 defending democratic activity1 and strengthening civil society1 despite threats to their safety2 7#c7 pays tribute to the journalists who have lost their lives carrying out their work2 7#d7 calls on governments abroad to implement ,united ,nations ,general ,assembly ,resolution 7,a_/,,res_/#fh_/afc71 by thoroughly investigating and seeking to resolve outstanding cases of violence against journalists1 including murders and kidnappings1 while ensuring the protection of witnesses2 7#e7 condemns all actions around the world that suppress freedom of the press1 such as the recent kidnappings of journalists and media workers in eastern ,ukraine by pro-,russian militant groups2 7#f7 reaffirms the centrality of freedom of the press to efforts by the ,united ,states ,government to support democracy1 mitigate conflict1 and promote good governance domestically and around the world2 and 7#g7 calls on the ,president and the ,secretary of ,state-- 7,a7 to improve the means by which the ,united ,states ,government rapidly identifies1 publicizes1 and responds to threats against freedom of the press around the world2 7,b7 to urge foreign governments to transparently investigate and bring to justice the perpetrators of attacks against journalists2 and 7,c7 to highlight the issue of threats against freedom of the press year-round4