,,iii #aaeth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 ,,res4 #eja ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,may #g1 #bjah,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 ,government of the ,united ,states 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 states that 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 frontiers2 ,whereas1 in #aiic1 the ,united ,nations ,general ,assembly proclaimed ,may #c of each year as ,world ,press ,freedom ,day to-- 7#a7 celebrate the fundamental principles of freedom of the press2 7#b7 evaluate freedom of the press around the world2 7#c7 defend against attacks on the independence of the media2 and 7#d7 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 ,united ,nations ,general ,assembly ,resolution #afc 7#bjac7 on the safety of journalists and the issue of impunity1 which 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 ,world ,press ,freedom ,day #bjah is ,keeping ,power in ,check3 ,media1 ,justice and the ,rule of ,law2 ,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 an examination of freedom of the press2 ,whereas the #bjag ,world ,press ,freedom ,index1 published by ,reporters ,without ,borders1 warned that media freedom has retreated wherever the authoritarian strongman model has triumphed2 ,whereas ,freedom ,house noted in the report ,freedom of the ,press #bjag that-- 7#a7 global press freedom has declined to its lowest point in #ac years2 and 7#b7 only #ac percent of the global population enjoys a free press1 meaning a media environment in which 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 pressures2 ,whereas1 according to the ,committee to ,protect ,journalists-- 7#a7 in #bjag-- 7,a7 the #b deadliest countries for journalists on assignment were ,iraq and ,syria2 7,b7 #df journalists were killed in cases in which the motive for the killing was confirmed to be related to reporting by those journalists2 7,c7 #bj journalists were killed in cases in which the motive for the killing was unconfirmed2 7,d7 there were #ba cases in which journalists were jailed for false news1 which represented more than double the number of cases in which journalists were jailed for false news in #bjaf2 and 7,e7 the percentage of female journalists who were killed in a year was the highest on record2 7#b7 the most dangerous subject for a journalist to report is politics1 followed only then by war2 and 7#c7 as of ,december #a1 #bjag1 #bfb journalists worldwide were imprisoned for their work1 marking the second consecutive year that the number of journalists imprisoned for their work hit a historic high2 ,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 participation in civil society and democratic governance3 ,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 #bjah on ,may #c1 #bjah2 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 the safety of those journalists and media workers2 7#d7 pays tribute to journalists who have lost their lives carrying out their work2 7#e7 calls on governments abroad to implement ,united ,nations ,general ,assembly ,resolution #afc 7#bjac7 on the safety of journalists and the issue of impunity by thoroughly investigating and seeking to resolve outstanding cases of violence against journalists1 including murders and kidnappings1 while ensuring the protection of witnesses2 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 ,government of the ,united ,states 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 to-- 7,a7 on the basis of the protections afforded under the ,first ,amendment to the ,constitution of the ,united ,states1 preserve and build upon the leadership of the ,united ,states on issues relating to freedom of the press2 7,b7 improve the means by which the ,government of the ,united ,states rapidly identifies1 publicizes1 and responds to threats against freedom of the press around the world2 7,c7 urge foreign governments to conduct transparent investigations and adjudications of the perpetrators of attacks against journalists2 and 7,d7 highlight the issue of threats against freedom of the press-- 7i7 in the annual ,human ,rights ,reports of the ,department of ,state2 and 7ii7 throughout the year4