,,iv  #aaf? ,,congress  #a/ ,session    
,h4 ,,res4 #cde  ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se ,,(     
,,repres5tatives  ,may #a1 #bjai,mr4    
,s*iff 7= himself & ,mr4 ,*abot7        
submitt$ ! foll[+ resolution2 :i* 0     
ref]r$ to ! ,committee on ,=eign        
,affairs  ,,resolution  ,recogniz+ wid5+
 ?reats to fre$oms ( ! press &          
expression ar\nd ! _w1 reaffirm+ !      
c5trality ( a free & indep5d5t press to 
! heal? ( democracy1 & reaffirm+ fre$om 
( ! press z a priority ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates
 9 promot+ democracy1 human rights1 &   
good gov]nance 9 commemoration ( ,_w    
,press ,fre$om ,day on ,may #c1 #bjai4  
,:]eas ,article #ai ( ! ,unit$ ,nations 
,univ]sal ,decl>ation ( ,human ,rights1 
adopt$ at ,p>is1 ,decemb] #aj1 #aidh1   
/ates1 ,ev]yone has ! "r to fre$om (    
op9ion & expression2 ?is "r includes    
fre$om to hold op9ions )\t int]f]5ce &  
to seek1 receive & imp>t in=mation &    
ideas ?r\gh any m$ia & reg>dless (      
fronti]s42 ,:]eas1 9 #aiic1 ! ,unit$    
,nations ,g5]al ,assembly proclaim$ ,may

 #c ( ea* ye> z ,_w ,press ,fre$om      
,day-- 7#a7 to celebrate ! fundam5tal   
pr9ciples ( fre$om ( ! press2  7#b7 to  
evaluate fre$om ( ! press ar\nd ! _w2   
7#c7 to def5d ! m$ia aga9/ attacks on   
its indep5d5ce2 &  7#d7 to pay tribute  
to j\rnali/s :o h lo/ _! lives :ile     
work+ 9 _! pr(ession2 ,:]eas1 on        
,decemb] #ah1 #bjac1 ! ,unit$ ,nations  
,g5]al ,assembly adopt$ ,resolution     
#fh_/afc on ! safety ( j\rnali/s & !    
problem ( impunity1 :i* unequivocally   
condemns all attacks on1 & viol5ce      
aga9/1 j\rnali/s & m$ia work]s1 includ+ 
torture1 extrajudicial kill+1 en=c$     
disappe>ance1 arbitr>y det5tion1 &      
intimidation & h>assm5t 9 conflict &    
nonconflict situations2 ,:]eas ! !me =  
,_w ,press ,fre$om ,day on ,may #c1     
#bjai1 is ,m$ia = ,democracy3 ,j\rnalism
 & ,democracy 9 ,times ( ,dis9=mation2  
,:]eas ,?omas ,jeff]son1 :o recogniz$ ! 
importance ( ! press 9 a con/itutional  
republic1 wisely decl>$1 4 4 4 7 x left 
to me to decide :e!r we %\ld h a        

gov]nm5t )\t newspap]s1 or newspap]s )\t
 a gov]nm5t1 ,i %\ld n hesitate a mom5t 
to pref] ! latt]42 ,:]eas ! ,daniel     
,pe>l ,fre$om ( ! ,press ,act ( #bjji   
7,public ,law #aaa-aff2 #bb ,u4,s4,c4   
#baea note71 sign$ into law by ,presid5t
 ,b>ack ,obama 9 #bjaj1 exp&$ !         
exam9ation ( ! fre$om ( ! press ar\nd ! 
_w 9 ! annual c\ntry reports on human   
rights practices ( ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,/ate2 
,:]eas ! #bjai ,_w ,press ,fre$om       
,index1 publi%$ by ,report]s ,)\t       
,bord]s1 w>ns1 ,! numb] ( c\ntries      
reg>d$ z safe1 :]e j\rnali/s c "w 9     
complete security1 cont9ues to decl9e1  
:ile au?orit>ian regimes tight5 _! grip 
on ! m$ia2 ,:]eas1 ,fre$om ,h\se's      
publication ,fre$om 9 ! ,_w #bjai not$ t
 global fre$om ( expression has decl9$  
ea* ye> = ! pa/ #ac ye>s2 ,:]eas1       
accord+ to ! ,committee to ,protect     
,j\rnali/s1 9 #bjah--  7#a7 at lea/ #ed 
j\rnali/s 7 kill$ ar\nd ! _w = _! "w1 ( 
:i* at lea/ #cd 7 s+l$ out = murd]2     
7#b7 ! #b deadlie/ c\ntries = j\rnali/s 

on assignm5t 7 ,afghani/an & ,syria2    
7#c7 ! mo/ dang]\s subject = a j\rnali/ 
to report on 0 politics1 foll[$ by w>2  
7#d7 #bea j\rnali/s worldwide 7 9       
prison1 ) ,turkey1 ,*9a1 & ,egypt       
responsible = m ?an half ( ! jail$      
j\rnali/s2  7#e7 #ac p]c5t ( ! j\rnali/s
 9 jail 7 female1 an increase f #h p]c5t
 9 #bjag2  7#f7 #gj p]c5t ( ! j\rnali/s 
:o 7 imprison$ ar\nd ! _w fac$ anti/ate 
*>ges1 su* z belong+ to or aid+ gr\ps   
deem$ by au?orities z t]rori/           
organizations2 &  7#g7 ! numb] (        
j\rnali/s imprison$ on *>ges ( false    
news rose to #bh globally1 comp>$ ) #i  
su* imprisonm5ts 9 #bjaf2  ,:]eas ! ,p's
 ,republic ( ,*9a ma9ta9s "o ( ! wor/   
m$ia environm5ts 9 ! _w & seeks to      
curtail political spee* inside & outside
 ! c\ntry includ+ by--  7#a7 t>get+     
indep5d5t & =eign m$ia 9 ,*9a ?r\gh     
sy/ematic h>assm5t includ+ ! d5ial (    
visas to =eign j\rnali/s1 imprisonm5t1 !
 d5ial ( m$ical c>e to imprison$        
j\rnali/s1 & curtail+ access to legal   

repres5tation2  7#b7 p]vasively monitor+
 & c5sor+ onl9e & social m$ia cont5t1   
includ+ ?r\gh ! bann+ ( virtual private 
networks2  7#c7 us+ ! full =ce ( ! ,/ate
 to /ifle int]nal diss5t includ+ diss5t 
onl9e1 p>ticul>ly diss5t t c\ld lead to 
political *ange & cont5t t criticizes   
,*9a's lead]s1 h[ev] trivial1 report$ly 
ev5 to ! po9t ( c5sor+ comp>isons ( ,xi 
,j+p+'s looks ) ,w9nie ! ,pooh2  7#d7   
spread+ propag&a to =eign audi5ces ?r\gh
 ! ,unit$ ,front ,"w ,dep>tm5t & relat$ 
activities2  7#e7 seek+ to intimidate   
,am]ican-bas$ j\rnali/s work+ = ,radio  
,free ,asia & report+ on gross human    
rights violations 9 ,*9a's ,x9jiang     
,uyghur ,autonom\s ,region by jail+ or  
o!rwise h>ass+ memb]s ( _! families2 &  
7#f7 *ampion+ a sov]eign ,int]net model 
& export+ te*nology to enhance ! ability
 ( l-m9d$ au?orit>ian regimes to        
suppress diss5t onl9e & monitor !       
activity ( _! p2  ,:]eas1 ,reut]s       
j\rnali/s ,wa ,lone & ,kyaw ,soe ,oo1   
recipi5ts ( ! #bjah ,,p5_/,b>bey ,fre$om

 to ,write ,aw>d--  7#a7 7 arre/$ 9     
,decemb] #bjag = inve/igat+ ! murd] by !
 ,burmese milit>y ( #aj ,roh+ya m5 9 !  
village ( ,inn ,d9n 9 ,rakh9e ,/ate2    
7#b7 7 s5t5c$ 9 ,septemb] #bjah to #g   
ye>s 9 prison on fraudul5t *>ges (      
brea*+ ! colonial-era ,(ficial ,secrets 
,act1 & rema9 unju/ly imprison$2 &  7#c7
 rema9 unju/ly deta9$1 aft] ,burma's    
,supreme ,c\rt reject$ _! appeal on     
,april #bc1 #bjai2 ,:]eas fre$om ( !    
press has be5 "u consid]able pressure 9 
rec5t ye>s ?r\gh\t ,s\!a/ ,asia1 includ+
 9 ! ,philipp9es1 :]e ! ,gov]nm5t has   
wag$ a campaign ( judicial h>assm5t     
aga9/ ! news website ,rappl] & its      
editor1 ,m>ia ,ressa2 ,:]eas1 ,n\f      
,abdulaziz1 ,l\ja9 ,al-,ha?l\l1 & ,eman 
,al-,nafjan1 recipi5ts ( ! #bjai        
,,p5_/,b>bey ,fre$om to ,write ,aw>d1 :o
 wrote 9 opposition to ,saudi ,arabia's 
repressive ,gu>dian%ip sy/em1 h be5     
subject$ to imprisonm5t1 solit>y        
conf9em5t1 & torture by ! ,gov]nm5t ( ! 
,k+dom ( ,saudi ,arabia s9ce ,may #bjah 

9 an app>5t ef=t to suppress diss5t &   
sil5ce ! voices ( wom52 ,:]eas1 ,wa%+ton
 ,po/ j\rnali/ & ,unit$ ,/ates resid5t  
,jamal ,kha%oggi 0 murd]$ by a team (   
,saudi op]atives :ile visit+ ! ,saudi   
,arabian consulate 9 ,i/anbul1 ,turkey2 
,:]eas ! ,s5ate unanim\sly approv$ a    
resolution /at+ t ,mr4 ,kha%oggi's murd]
 0 c>ri$ out at ! behe/ ( ,cr[n ,pr9ce  
,mohamm$ b9 ,salman2 ,:]eas j\rnali/    
,mimi ,mefo ,takamb\ 0 jail$ = #d days 9
 ,cam]oon 9 ,novemb] #bjah on *>ges (   
spread+ false news :ile inve/igat+ !    
dea? ( an ,am]ican mission>y1 :]e #d out
 ( ! #g total j\rnali/s imprison$ 9     
,cam]oon 7 jail$ = spread+ false news1  
:i* is a ris+ tr5d 9 ,cam]oon & else:]e 
ar\nd ! _w2 ,:]eas accord+ to !         
,committee to ,protect ,j\rnali/s1 at   
lea/ #bf j\rnali/s 7 kill$ 9 ,honduras  
s9ce #bjjg1 mak+ x "o ( ! mo/ deadly    
c\ntries = j\rnali/s 9 ! ,am]icas1 & :]e
 j\rnali/ ,leon>do ,gabriel ,h]n&ez 0   
murd]$ 9 ,m>* #bjai aft] receiv+ ?reats 
relat$ to 8 "w2 ,:]eas 9 ,nic>agua1     

,miguel ,mora & ,luca ,p9$a ,ubau1 !    
directors ( ! c\ntry's only #bd-;h\r    
cable news network1 h be5 jail$ s9ce    
,decemb] #bjah on *>ges ( fom5t+ hate1  
spread+ fake news1 & t]rorism1 & prom95t
 j\rnali/ ,c>los ,f]n&o ,*amorro has fl$
 ! c\ntry z ,presid5t ,daniel ,ortega   
cracks d[n on free expression 9 a bid to
 sil5ce diss5t & end ! prote/s aga9/    
him2 ,:]eas 9 ,mexico1 :i* rema9s ! mo/ 
dang]\s c\ntry 9 ! ,we/]n ,hemisph]e =  
j\rnali/s--  7#a7 murd]s1 dea? ?reats1 &
 legal impunity cause j\rnali/s to      
self-c5sor _! report+ out ( fe>2  7#b7  
inve/igative j\rnali/ ,c>los ,dom+uez   
,ramirez1 :o wrote frequ5tly on local   
politics & corruption1 0 brutally murd]$
 9 front ( family memb]s on ,janu>y #ac1
 #bjah1 9 ,nuevo ,l>$o1 & a politician  
he 0 inve/igat+ 0 subsequ5tly arre/$ 9  
connection ) ?is he9\s act2 &  7#c7     
,rafael ,mura ,manrquez 0 abduct$ &     
murd]$ 9 ,janu>y #bjai aft] report+     
?reats f an (ficial 9 ! municipal       
gov]nm5t = critical report+2  ,:]eas    

,slovakian j\rnali/ ,jn ,kuciak & 8     
p>tn] ,m>t9a ,kunrov 7 murd]$ 9 ,febru>y
 #bjah1 alleg$ly 9 retaliation = 8      
inve/igative report+ ( tax fraud 9      
connection to a bus9essman ) close ties 
to ,slovakia's rul+ p>ty1 :]e !         
p]petrator awaits trial1 j #d mon?s aft]
 ! murd] ( ano!r ,european j\rnali/1    
,malta's ,daphne ,c>uana ,galizia1 = h] 
report+ on corruption2 ,:]eas ! _w's    
gr[+ cadre ( e?ical & h>d-hitt+         
inve/igative j\rnali/s1 includ+ ^?      
contribut+ to ! ,organiz$ ,crime &      
,corruption ,report+ ,project--  7#a7   
adh]e to ! highe/ pr(essional /&>ds2    
7#b7 uncov] abuses & corruption be+     
committ$ 9 _! own c\ntries2 &  7#c7     
des]ve ! int]national community's       
support & praise = tak+ on ! risky job (
 fo/]+ acc\ntability & transp>5cy 9 _!  
respective c\ntries2  ,:]eas1 "u !      
auspices ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates ,ag5cy =     
,global ,m$ia1 ! ,unit$ ,/ates ,gov]nm5t
 provides f9ancial assi/ance to sev]al  
editorially indep5d5t m$ia outlets1     

includ+ ,voice ( ,am]ica1 ,radio ,free  
,europe_/,radio ,lib]ty1 ,radio ,free   
,asia1 ,radio y ,television ,m>ti1 & !  
,middle ,ea/ ,broadca/ ,networks--  7#a7
 :i* report & broadca/ news1 in=mation1 
& analysis 9 critical regions ar\nd !   
_w2 &  7#b7 ^: j\rnali/s regul>ly face  
h>assm5t1 f9es1 & imprisonm5t = _! "w2 &
 ,:]eas fre$om ( ! press--  7#a7 is a   
key compon5t ( democratic gov]nance1    
activism 9 civil society1 &             
socioeconomic developm5t2 &  7#b7       
enhances public acc\ntability1          
transp>5cy1 & p>ticipation 9 civil      
society & democratic gov]nance3 ,n[1    
!re=e1 be x  ,t ! ,h\se (               
,repres5tatives-- 7#a7 expresses conc]n 
ab\t ?reats to fre$om ( ! press & free  
expression ar\nd ! _w on ! occasion (   
,_w ,press ,fre$om ,day2  7#b7 comm5ds  
j\rnali/s & m$ia work]s ar\nd ! _w1     
despite ?reats to _! safety1 = _!       
ess5tial role 9--  7,a7 promot+ gov]nm5t
 acc\ntability2  7,b7 def5d+ democratic 
activity2 &  7,c7 /r5g!n+ civil society2

  7#c7 pays tribute to j\rnali/s :o h   
lo/ _! lives c>ry+ out _! "w2  7#d7     
calls on gov]nm5ts abroad to implem5t   
,unit$ ,nations ,g5]al ,assembly        
,resolution #afc 7#bjac7 by ?or\ghly    
inve/igat+ & seek+ to resolve out/&+    
cases ( viol5ce aga9/ j\rnali/s1 includ+
 murd]s & kidnapp+s1 :ile ensur+ !      
protection ( witnesses2  7#e7 condemns  
all actions ar\nd ! _w t suppress fre$om
 ( ! press2  7#f7 reaffirms ! c5trality 
( fre$om ( ! press to ef=ts ( ! ,unit$  
,/ates ,gov]nm5t to support democracy1  
mitigate conflict1 & promote good       
gov]nance ar\nd ! _w2 &  7#g7 calls on !
 ,presid5t & ! ,secret>y ( ,/ate-- 7,a7 
to pres]ve & build ^u ! lead]%ip ( !    
,unit$ ,/ates on issues relat+ to fre$om
 ( ! press1 on ! basis ( ! protections  
af=d$ ! ,am]ican p "u ! ,fir/ ,am5dm5t  
to ! ,con/itution ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates2    
7,b7 to improve ! rapid id5tification1  
publication1 & response by ! ,unit$     
,/ates ,gov]nm5t to ?reats aga9/ fre$om 
( ! press ar\nd ! _w2  7,c7 to urge     

=eign gov]nm5ts to transp>5tly          
inve/igate & br+ to ju/ice ! p]petrators
 ( attacks aga9/ j\rnali/s2 &  7,d7 to  
highlight ! issue ( ?reats aga9/ fre$om 
( ! press 9 ! annual c\ntry reports on  
human rights practices ( ! ,dep>tm5t (  
,/ate & ?r\gh diplomatic *annels4