House Resolution Supports International Day of Political Prisoners

Congressmen Joe Wilson (R-SC) and Steve Cohen (D-TN) will introduce a House resolution on October 30, 2024, supporting the designation of this day as the International Day of Political Prisoners. The resolution highlights the estimated 1,000,000 political prisoners worldwide, including journalists, academics, and human rights defenders. It specifically mentions authoritarian regimes such as Belarus, China, Cuba, Egypt, Iran, Burma, Russia, and Venezuela, which have imprisoned independent voices. The resolution also acknowledges the US Government's efforts to secure the release of several dozen political prisoners from these countries in 2024 and 2025.

Key Takeaways:

• The House resolution will support the designation of October 30 as the International Day of Political Prisoners.
• An estimated 1,000,000 political prisoners are held worldwide, including journalists, academics, and human rights defenders.
• Regimes such as Belarus, China, Cuba, Egypt, Iran, Burma, Russia, and Venezuela have imprisoned independent voices for political motives.
• The US Government has secured the release of several dozen political prisoners from these countries in 2024 and 2025.
• The resolution conveys solidarity with all those imprisoned peacefully expressing their political or religious beliefs.
• It supports efforts to condemn political imprisonment, hold accountable regimes responsible for persecution, and raise international awareness of political prisoners.
• The resolution urges the US Government to continue such efforts in the future.

Statistics:

• Estimated 1,000,000 political prisoners worldwide.
• Several dozen political prisoners released from Belarus, Russia, and Venezuela in 2024 and 2025 through US Government negotiations.

Sources:

• [Office of South Carolina Rep. Joe Wilson]
• [Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe Parliamentary Assembly's Special Representative on Political Prisoners, Steve Cohen]