World Press Freedom Day

This House applauds World Press Freedom Day in declaring its respect and admiration for all journalists and media representatives around the world who face the horrors of possible harassment, incarceration, injury, and death; deplores the targeting of journalists who are simply carrying out their invaluable work; mourns those journalists who have died in conflicts both past and present; notes the significant death toll in Russia - 11 since February 2022 - and Gaza - 92 Palestinians, 2 Israelis since 7 November 2023; condemns the persecution of journalists speaking out against these wars, including the detention of Evan Gershkovich in Russia and the continued imprisonment of Julian Assange, who is being held in a maximum security prison for his role in exposing the truth about war crimes; and demands the release of all journalists who have been persecuted for doing their job.