Bill Text: CA SJR22 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Chaptered

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Bill Title: World Press Freedom Day 2012.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2012-05-03 - Chaptered by Secretary of State. Res. Chapter 17, Statutes of 2012. [SJR22 Detail]

Download: California-2011-SJR22-Chaptered.html

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BILL NUMBER: SJR 22	CHAPTERED
	BILL TEXT

	RESOLUTION CHAPTER  17
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE  MAY 3, 2012
	ADOPTED IN SENATE  APRIL 30, 2012
	ADOPTED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 23, 2012
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 16, 2012

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Simitian

                        MARCH 22, 2012

   Relative to World Press Freedom Day 2012.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SJR 22, Simitian. World Press Freedom Day 2012.
   This measure would recognize May 3, 2012, as World Press Freedom
Day 2012, and encourage all state legislatures throughout the United
States to recognize May 3, 2012, as World Press Freedom Day 2012,
thereby also acknowledging the importance of a free press in the
United States and the world.



   WHEREAS, Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,
passed by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948, proclaims that
"e]veryone 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"; and
   WHEREAS, In 1993, the United Nations declared May 3rd of each year
as World Press Freedom Day; and
   WHEREAS, May 3rd is now the annual date that celebrates the
fundamental principles of press freedom, evaluates press freedom
around the world, defends the media from attacks on its independence,
and pays tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the
exercise of their profession; and
   WHEREAS, Press freedom was enshrined as a fundamental right in the
United States in 1791 with the effectiveness of the Bill of Rights,
containing the First Amendment to the United States Constitution,
declaring "Congress shall make no law...abridging the freedom...of
the press" and this fundamental right has been instrumental in the
advancement of democratic values in the United States and around the
world; and
   WHEREAS, According to the International Press Institute (IPI), an
independent, nonprofit organization founded in the United States in
1950 to promote press freedom worldwide and which holds consultative
status with the United Nations, thus far in 2012, at least 31
journalists worldwide have lost their lives because of their
profession or while on assignment, since 1997, a total of over 1,139
journalists worldwide have lost their lives because of their
profession or while on assignment, including eight in the United
States, and hundreds of journalists are currently imprisoned
throughout the world; and
   WHEREAS, According to Freedom House, a nonprofit organization with
consultant status at the United Nations, press freedom is now in
decline in almost every part of the world and only 15 percent of the
world's citizens live in countries that enjoy a free press; and
   WHEREAS, The growing influence of Internet reporting is being
injured by censorship of Internet Web sites and imprisonment of
online editors, bloggers, and web-based reporters in different
countries throughout the world; and
   WHEREAS, A free press within California and throughout the world
plays a key role in sustaining and monitoring a healthy democracy,
contributing to greater accountability in government, and promoting
civic participation and economic development; now, therefore, be it
   Resolved by the Senate and the Assembly of the State of
California, jointly, That the Legislature recognizes May 3, 2012, as
World Press Freedom Day 2012, to commend all journalists around the
world for their essential role in promoting accountability in
government and strengthening civil society, to show respect for
journalists who stay committed to their profession despite numerous
personal threats to their safety, and to remember those journalists
who have lost their lives in the exercise of their profession; and be
it further
   Resolved, The Legislature condemns any action against the exercise
of a free press and reaffirms the importance of a free press in
California and the United States; and be it further
   Resolved, The Legislature encourages all state legislatures
throughout the United States to recognize May 3, 2012, as World Press
Freedom Day 2012, thereby also acknowledging the importance of a
free press in the United States and the world; and be it further
   Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this
resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.