,,iii #aaeth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 ,,res4 #aej ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,may #c1 #bjag ,mr4 ,casey 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,rubio1 and ,mr4 ,wyden7 submitted the following resolution2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,foreign ,relations ,,resolution ,recognizing threats to freedom of the press and expression around the world and reaffirming freedom of the press as a priority in 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 in ,paris1 ,france1 on ,december #aj1 #aidh1 states1 ,everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression2 this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek1 receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers42 ,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 evaluate freedom of the press around the world1 defend against attacks on the independence of the media1 and 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,united ,nations ,general ,assembly ,resolution #afc 7#bjac77 on the safety of journalists and the issue of impunity1 that unequivocally condemns1 in both conflict and nonconflict situations1 all attacks on and violence against journalists and media workers1 including torture1 extrajudicial killing1 enforced disappearance1 arbitrary detention1 and intimidation and harassment2 ,whereas the theme for the #bjag ,world ,press ,freedom ,day1 is ,critical ,minds for ,critical ,times3 ,media's role in advancing peaceful1 just and inclusive societies2 ,whereas the ,daniel ,pearl ,freedom of the ,press ,act of #bjji 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #baea note2 ,public ,law #aaa-aff71 which was passed by unanimous consent in the ,senate and signed into law by ,president ,barack ,obama in #bjaj1 expanded the annual ,human ,rights ,reports of the ,department of ,state to include the examination of freedom of the press2 ,whereas1 the #bjaf ,world ,press ,freedom ,index1 published by ,reporters ,without ,borders in ,april #bjaf1 indicated a climate of fear and tension combined with increasing control over newsrooms by governments and private sector interests2 ,whereas1 the #bjaf ,world ,press ,freedom ,index identified a decline in media freedom across all indicators1 especially the destruction of media infrastructure1 like the facilities and equipment of media1 and the adoption of legislative frameworks that unjustly penalize journalists for doing their work2 ,whereas1 according to the ,committee to ,protect ,journalists1 in #bjaf1 the three deadliest countries for journalists were ,syria1 ,yemen1 and ,iraq1 with more than half of the journalists killed in combat or crossfire1 for the first time since the ,committee to ,protect ,journalists began keeping records2 ,whereas1 according to the ,committee to ,protect ,journalists1 in #bjaf1 #dh journalists were killed in cases where the motive was confirmed to be related to their reporting1 #bh journalists were killed in cases where the motive was unconfirmed1 and #b media workers were killed2 ,whereas1 according to the ,committee to ,protect ,journalists1 impunity for the murder of journalists remains systemic1 with the killers going free in #i out of #aj cases2 ,whereas1 according to the ,committee to ,protect ,journalists1 as of ,december #a1 #bjaf1 #bei journalists worldwide were in prison1 the highest number recorded since the group began systematically tracking imprisonment in #aiij2 ,whereas1 according to the ,freedom ,house report ,freedom of the ,press #bjag1 only #ac percent of the world's population enjoys a ,free press1 meaning coverage of political news is robust1 the safety of journalists is guaranteed1 state intrusion in media affairs is minimal1 and the press is not subject to onerous legal or economic pressures42 ,whereas freedom of the press is a key component of democratic governance1 activism in 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 world2 7#b7 welcomes the celebration of ,world ,press ,freedom ,day #bjag on ,may #c1 #bjag2 7#c7 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#d7 pays tribute to journalists who have lost their lives or liberty carrying out their work2 7#e7 calls on governments abroad to implement ,united ,nations ,general ,assembly ,resolution 7,a_/,,res_/#fh_/afc7 by thoroughly investigating and seeking to resolve outstanding cases of violence against journalists1 including murders and kidnappings1 while ensuring the protection of witnesses1 and by reporting on the status of investigations2 7#f7 condemns all actions around the world that suppress freedom of the press2 7#g7 reaffirms the centrality of freedom of the press to efforts of the ,united ,states ,government to support democracy1 mitigate conflict1 and promote good governance domestically and around the world2 and 7#h7 calls on the ,president and the ,secretary of ,state-- 7,a7 to preserve and build upon ,united ,states leadership in freedom of the press1 on the basis of ,first ,amendment protections2 7,b7 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,c7 to urge foreign governments to conduct transparent investigations and adjudications of the perpetrators of attacks against journalists2 and 7,d7 to highlight the issue of threats against freedom of the press in the annual ,human ,rights ,reports and year round4