[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 152 Referred in Senate (RFS)]







105th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. CON. RES. 152


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             March 19, 1998

      Received and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
Expressing the sense of the Congress that all parties to the multiparty 
  peace talks regarding Northern Ireland should condemn violence and 
 fully integrate internationally recognized human rights standards and 
 adequately address outstanding human rights violations as part of the 
                             peace process.

Whereas multiparty talks regarding Northern Ireland attended by representatives 
        of the British and Irish Governments and representatives elected from 
        political parties in Northern Ireland are underway for the first time 
        since the partition of Ireland in 1922 creating a momentous opportunity 
        for progress on human rights concerns;
Whereas human rights violations and the lack of accountability by those 
        responsible for such violations have been persistent features of the 
        conflict in Northern Ireland; and
Whereas more than 3,000 people have died and thousands more have been injured as 
        a result of the political violence in Northern Ireland since 1969: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That--
            (1) the Congress condemns the violence committed on all 
        sides of the conflict in Northern Ireland as illegal, unjust, 
        and inhumane;
            (2) the Congress commends the leadership in both the 
        British and Irish Governments and former United States Senator 
        George Mitchell, Independent Chairman of the multiparty talks, 
        for fostering a new environment in which human rights concerns 
        may be addressed and an agreement may be reached expeditiously 
        through inclusive talks with respect to Northern Ireland; and
            (3) it is the sense of the Congress that--
                    (A) all parties should reject violence and work 
                diligently through democratic, peaceful means to reach 
                a just and lasting peace in Northern Ireland;
                    (B) human rights should be protected for all 
                citizens and any peace agreement in Northern Ireland 
                must recognize the state's obligation to protect human 
                rights in all circumstances; and
                    (C) there are a number of measures which can be 
                taken immediately that would remedy abusive human 
                rights policies and build confidence in the peace 
                process, such as acting upon the Standing Advisory 
                Commission on Human Rights (SACHR) report and 
                recommendations put forth by other human rights 
                organizations.

            Passed the House of Representatives March 18, 1998.

            Attest:

                                                Robin H. Carle,

                                                                 Clerk.