Title: A resolution recognizing widening threats to freedoms of the press and expression around the world, reaffirming the centrality of a free and independent press to the health of free societies and democracies, and reaffirming freedom of the press as a priority of the United States in promoting democracy, human rights, and good governance in commemoration of World Press Freedom Day on May 3, 2020.
Policy area: International Affairs

Summary:
This resolution recognizes the importance of a free press to an informed, transparent, and safe society; condemns threats to freedom of the press and free expression around the world; and, in remembrance of journalists who lost their lives carrying out their work, calls for actions by the President, the Department of State, and foreign governments to protect and promote freedom of expression globally.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 595 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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116th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 595

 Recognizing widening threats to freedoms of the press and expression 
around the world, reaffirming the centrality of a free and independent 
press to the health of free societies and democracies, and reaffirming 
 freedom of the press as a priority of the United States in promoting 
democracy, human rights, and good governance in commemoration of World 
                   Press Freedom Day on May 3, 2020.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 21, 2020

   Mr. Menendez (for himself, Mr. Rubio, Mr. Cardin, Mr. Tillis, Mr. 
Kaine, Mr. Boozman, Mr. Coons, Mr. Cornyn, Mr. Markey, Mrs. Blackburn, 
   Mr. Merkley, Ms. Collins, and Mr. Casey) submitted the following 
  resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Recognizing widening threats to freedoms of the press and expression 
around the world, reaffirming the centrality of a free and independent 
press to the health of free societies and democracies, and reaffirming 
 freedom of the press as a priority of the United States in promoting 
democracy, human rights, and good governance in commemoration of World 
                   Press Freedom Day on May 3, 2020.

Whereas Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted in 
        Paris 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 3rd of each 
        year as ``World Press Freedom Day''--

    (1) to celebrate the fundamental principles of freedom of the press;

    (2) to evaluate freedom of the press around the world;

    (3) to defend the media against attacks on its independence; and

    (4) to pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives while 
working in their profession;

Whereas, on December 18, 2013, the United Nations General Assembly adopted 
        Resolution 68/163, regarding the safety of journalists and the issue of 
        impunity for crimes against journalists, which unequivocally condemns 
        all attacks on, and violence against, journalists and media workers, 
        including torture, extrajudicial killing, enforced disappearance, 
        arbitrary detention, and intimidation and harassment in conflict and 
        nonconflict situations;
Whereas Thomas Jefferson, who recognized the importance of the press in a 
        constitutional republic, wisely declared, ``were it left to me to decide 
        whether we should have a government without newspapers, or newspapers 
        without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the 
        latter.'';
Whereas the First Amendment to the United States Constitution and various State 
        constitutions protect freedom of the press in the United States;
Whereas the Daniel Pearl Freedom of the Press Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-166; 
        22 U.S.C. 2151 note), which was passed by unanimous consent in the 
        Senate and signed into law by President Barack Obama in 2010, expanded 
        the examination of the freedom of the press around the world in the 
        annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices of the Department of 
        State;
Whereas a vigilant commitment to freedom of the press is especially necessary in 
        the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic--

    (1) as governments around the world are using emergency laws to 
restrict access to information, impose press restrictions, and suppress 
free speech; and

    (2) as journalists around the world are being censored and imprisoned 
for their reporting on the virus;

Whereas in China, Chen Qiushi disappeared after reporting on the Government of 
        the People's Republic of China's COVID-19 response in February 2020, Xu 
        Zhiyong was reportedly detained in February 2020 during a COVID-19 
        prevention check after criticizing Chinese authorities, and reporters 
        from The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, Voice 
        of America, and Time were expelled in March 2020;
Whereas authorities in numerous countries, including Russia, Iran, Cuba, Burma 
        (Myanmar), and Venezuela have--

    (1) restricted journalist movement;

    (2) hindered access to information;

    (3) removed content; and

    (4) threatened, harassed, attacked, and arrested journalists for their 
reporting on the COVID-19 pandemic;

Whereas, even prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, freedom of the press remained 
        under considerable pressure throughout the world;
Whereas Reporters Without Borders found that, as of April 20, 2020, at least 229 
        journalists, 116 citizen journalists, and 14 media assistants were 
        imprisoned worldwide;
Whereas according to the Committee to Protect Journalists, at least 25 
        journalists were killed around the world for their work in 2019;
Whereas Freedom House's publication ``Freedom in the World 2020'' noted that 
        global freedom of expression has declined every year for the past 14 
        years;
Whereas, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists, the world's most 
        censored countries include Eritrea, North Korea, Turkmenistan, Saudi 
        Arabia, China, Vietnam, Iran, Equatorial Guinea, Belarus, and Cuba;
Whereas the Government of the Philippines has waged a campaign of judicial 
        harassment against a variety of independent press outlets, including the 
        news website Rappler and its editor, Maria Ressa, who has been arrested 
        twice;
Whereas in Russia, Crimean Tatar freelance journalist Nariman Memedeminov was 
        sentenced to 30 months in prison for reporting on human rights 
        violations by Russian authorities in Crimea;
Whereas in Cuba, the Committee to Protect Journalists and Amnesty International 
        have written to the Cuban authorities to request the immediate release 
        of journalist Roberto Quinones, who has been imprisoned since September 
        2019;
Whereas in Venezuela, freelance journalist Darvinson Rojas has been detained 
        since March 21, 2020, for reporting on presumed COVID-19 cases that were 
        unacknowledged by the Government of Venezuela;
Whereas in Mexico, Quinto Poder de Veracruz founder Maria Elena Ferral, El 
        Graffico reporter Jorge Celestino Ruiz Vazquez, and journalists Nevith 
        Condes Jaramilla, Rogelio Barragan Perez, and Norma Sarabia were all 
        murdered between June 2019 and March 2020;
Whereas in Niger, independent journalist Kaka Touda Mamane Goni was arrested on 
        March 5, 2020, and faces up to 3 years in prison for publishing news 
        reports on social media about potential COVID-19 cases;
Whereas in Burundi, Iwacu journalists Christine Kamikazi, Agnes Ndirubusa, Egide 
        Harerimana, and Terence Mpozenzi were convicted on charges of attempting 
        to undermine state security and sentenced to 2\1/2\ years in prison;
Whereas in Tanzania, journalist Azory Gwanda has been missing since November 
        2017;
Whereas Turkey remains one of the top jailers of independent journalists around 
        the world, and the Government of Turkey closed down more than 100 news 
        outlets during 2019;
Whereas in Egypt, prominent blogger and activist Alaa Abdelfattah was rearrested 
        in September 2019, human rights activist and journalist Esraa Abdel 
        Fattah was rearrested in October 2019, and Guardian reporter Ruth 
        Michaelson's press credentials were withdrawn for questioning official 
        COVID-19 figures on March 16, 2020;
Whereas American journalist Austin Tice has been detained in Syria since August 
        14, 2012;
Whereas female journalists and writers in Saudi Arabia face harsh personal 
        consequences for their work, and Zana Al-Shari of the daily Al-Riyadh, 
        Maha al-Rafidi al-Qahtani of the daily Al-Watan, and recipients of the 
        2019 PEN/Barbey Freedom to Write Award Nouf Abdulaziz, Loujain Al-
        Hathloul, and Eman Al-Nafjan remain missing, imprisoned, or on trial due 
        to their writing and outspoken women's rights advocacy;
Whereas the Senate has concluded that Washington Post journalist and United 
        States resident Jamal Khashoggi was murdered by a team of Saudi 
        operatives at the behest of Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman;
Whereas, under the auspices of the United States Agency for Global Media, the 
        United States Government provides financial assistance to several 
        editorially independent media outlets, including Voice of America, Radio 
        Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Radio Free Asia, Radio, the Office of Cuba 
        Broadcasting, and the Middle East Broadcast Networks--

    (1) which report and broadcast news, information, and analysis in 
critical regions around the world; and

    (2) whose journalists regularly face harassment, fines, and 
imprisonment for their work; and

Whereas freedom of the press is a key element of public transparency, civil 
        society participation, socioeconomic development, and democratic 
        governance: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) declares that a free press--
                    (A) is a central component of free societies, 
                democratic governance, and contributes to an informed 
                civil society, and government accountability;
                    (B) helps expose corruption, and enhances public 
                accountability and transparency of governments at all 
                levels; and
                    (C) disseminates information essential to improving 
                public health and safety;
            (2) condemns threats to freedom of the press and free 
        expression around the world; and
            (3) in remembrance of journalists who have lost their lives 
        carrying out their vital work--
                    (A) calls on governments abroad to implement United 
                Nations General Assembly Resolution 68/163 (2013) by 
                thoroughly investigating and seeking to resolve 
                outstanding cases of violence against journalists, 
                including murders and kidnappings, while ensuring the 
                protection of witnesses;
                    (B) condemns all actions around the world that 
                suppress freedom of the press;
                    (C) calls for the unconditional and immediate 
                release of all imprisoned journalists;
                    (D) reaffirms the centrality of freedom of the 
                press to efforts of the United States Government to 
                support democracy, mitigate conflict, and promote good 
                governance domestically and around the world; and
                    (E) calls upon the President and the Secretary of 
                State--
                            (i) to preserve and build upon the 
                        leadership of the United States on issues 
                        relating to freedom of the press, on the basis 
                        of the protections afforded the American people 
                        under the First Amendment to the Constitution 
                        of the United States;
                            (ii) to improve the rapid identification, 
                        publication, and response by the United States 
                        Government to threats against freedom of the 
                        press around the world;
                            (iii) to urge foreign governments to 
                        protect the free flow of information and to 
                        transparently investigate and bring to justice 
                        the perpetrators of attacks against 
                        journalists; and
                            (iv) to promote the respect and protection 
                        of freedom of the press around the world.
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