III 

115TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 150 

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 governance. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MAY 3, 2017 

Mr. CASEY (for himself, Mr. RUBIO, and Mr. WYDEN) submitted the following 

resolution; 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 governance. 

Whereas Article 19 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted in Paris, France, on December 10, 1948, states, ‘‘Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, 

receive and impart information and ideas through any 

media and regardless of frontiers.’’; 

Whereas, in 1993, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed May 3 of each year as ‘‘World Press Freedom 

Day’’ to celebrate the fundamental principles of freedom 


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•SRES 150 IS 

of the press, evaluate freedom of the press around the 

world, defend against attacks on the independence of the 

media, and pay tribute to journalists who have lost their 

lives in the exercise of their profession; 

Whereas, on December 18, 2013, the United Nations General 

Assembly adopted a resolution (United Nations General 

Assembly Resolution 163 (2013)) on the safety of journalists and the issue of impunity, that unequivocally condemns, in both conflict and nonconflict situations, all attacks on and violence against journalists and media workers, including torture, extrajudicial killing, enforced disappearance, arbitrary detention, and intimidation and 

harassment; 

Whereas the theme for the 2017 World Press Freedom Day, 

is ‘‘Critical Minds for Critical Times: Media’s role in advancing peaceful, just and inclusive societies’’; 

Whereas the Daniel Pearl Freedom of the Press Act of 2009 

(22 U.S.C. 2151 note; Public Law 111–166), which was 

passed by unanimous consent in the Senate and signed 

into law by President Barack Obama in 2010, expanded 

the annual Human Rights Reports of the Department of 

State to include the examination of freedom of the press; 

Whereas, the 2016 World Press Freedom Index, published by 

Reporters Without Borders in April 2016, indicated ‘‘a 

climate of fear and tension combined with increasing control over newsrooms by governments and private sector 

interests’’; 

Whereas, the 2016 World Press Freedom Index identified a 

decline in media freedom across all indicators, especially 

the destruction of media infrastructure, like the facilities 

and equipment of media, and the adoption of legislative 


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frameworks that unjustly penalize journalists for doing 

their work; 

Whereas, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists, 

in 2016, the three deadliest countries for journalists were 

Syria, Yemen, and Iraq, with more than half of the journalists killed in combat or crossfire, for the first time 

since the Committee to Protect Journalists began keeping 

records; 

Whereas, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists, 

in 2016, 48 journalists were killed in cases where the motive was confirmed to be related to their reporting, 28 

journalists were killed in cases where the motive was 

unconfirmed, and 2 media workers were killed; 

Whereas, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists, 

impunity for the murder of journalists remains systemic, 

with the killers going free in 9 out of 10 cases; 

Whereas, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists, 

as of December 1, 2016, 259 journalists worldwide were 

in prison, the highest number recorded since the group 

began systematically tracking imprisonment in 1990; 

Whereas, according to the Freedom House report ‘‘Freedom 

of the Press 2017’’, only 13 percent of the world’s population enjoys a Free press, meaning ‘‘coverage of political 

news is robust, the safety of journalists is guaranteed, 

state intrusion in media affairs is minimal, and the press 

is not subject to onerous legal or economic pressures.’’; 

Whereas freedom of the press is a key component of democratic governance, activism in civil society, and socioeconomic development; and 

Whereas freedom of the press enhances public accountability, 

transparency, and participation: Now, therefore, be it 


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1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) expresses concern about the threats to free3 dom of the press and expression around the world; 

4 (2) welcomes the celebration of World Press 

5 Freedom Day 2017 on May 3, 2017; 

6 (3) commends journalists and media workers 

7 around the world for their essential role in pro8 moting government accountability, defending demo9 cratic activity, and strengthening civil society, de10 spite threats to their safety; 

11 (4) pays tribute to journalists who have lost 

12 their lives or liberty carrying out their work; 

13 (5) calls on governments abroad to implement 

14 United Nations General Assembly Resolution (A/ 

15 RES/68/163) by thoroughly investigating and seek16 ing to resolve outstanding cases of violence against 

17 journalists, including murders and kidnappings, 

18 while ensuring the protection of witnesses, and by 

19 reporting on the status of investigations; 

20 (6) condemns all actions around the world that 

21 suppress freedom of the press; 

22 (7) reaffirms the centrality of freedom of the 

23 press to efforts of the United States Government to 

24 support democracy, mitigate conflict, and promote 


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1 good governance domestically and around the world; 

2 and 

3 (8) calls on the President and the Secretary of 

4 State— 

5 (A) to preserve and build upon United 

6 States leadership in freedom of the press, on 

7 the basis of First Amendment protections; 

8 (B) to improve the means by which the 

9 United States Government rapidly identifies, 

10 publicizes, and responds to threats against free11 dom of the press around the world; 

12 (C) to urge foreign governments to conduct 

13 transparent investigations and adjudications of 

14 the perpetrators of attacks against journalists; 

15 and 

16 (D) to highlight the issue of threats 

17 against freedom of the press in the annual 

18 Human Rights Reports and year round. 

Æ 


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