[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 156 Referred in Senate (RFS)]

  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 156


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                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           November 10, 1997

      Received and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
 Expressing concern for the continued deterioration of human rights in 
     Afghanistan and emphasizing the need for a peaceful political 
                      settlement in that country.

Whereas Congress recognizes that the legacy of civil conflict in Afghanistan 
        during the last 17 years has had a devastating effect on the civilian 
        population in that country, killing 2,000,000 people and displacing more 
        than 7,000,000, and has had a particularly negative impact on the rights 
        and security of women and girls;
Whereas the Department of State's Country Reports on Human Practices for 1996 
        states: ``Serious human rights violations continue to occur [. . .] 
        political killings, torture, rape, arbitrary detention, looting, 
        abductions and kidnappings for ransom were committed by armed units, 
        local commanders and rogue individuals.'';
Whereas the Afghan combatants are responsible for numerous abhorrent human 
        rights abuses, including the rape, sexual abuse, torture, abduction, and 
        persecution of women and girls;
Whereas drug proliferation has increased in Afghanistan;
Whereas Congress is disturbed by the upsurge of reported human rights abuses in 
        Afghanistan, including extreme restrictions placed on women and girls;
Whereas safe haven has been provided to suspected terrorists and terrorist camps 
        may be allowed to operate in Afghanistan;
Whereas Afghanistan is a sovereign nation and must work to solve its internal 
        disputes; and
Whereas Afghanistan and the United States recognize international human rights 
        conventions, such as the Universal Declaration on Human Rights, which 
        espouse respect for basic human rights of all individuals without regard 
        to race, religion, ethnicity, or gender: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring),

SECTION 1. DECLARATION OF POLICY.

    The Congress hereby--
            (1) deplores the violations of international humanitarian 
        law in Afghanistan and raises concern over the reported cases 
        of stoning, public executions, and street beatings;
            (2) condemns the targeted discrimination against women and 
        girls and expresses deep concern regarding the prohibition of 
        employment and education for women and girls;
            (3) urges the Taliban and all other parties in Afghanistan 
        to cease providing safe haven to suspected terrorists or 
        permitting Afghan territory to be used for terrorist training; 
        and
            (4) takes note of the continued armed conflict in 
        Afghanistan, affirms the need for peace negotiations and 
        expresses hope that the Afghan parties will agree to a cease-
        fire throughout the country.

SEC. 2. SENSE OF THE CONGRESS.

    It is the sense of Congress that the President--
            (1) should continue to monitor the human rights situation 
        in Afghanistan and should call for adherence by all factions in 
        Afghanistan to international humanitarian law;
            (2) should call for an end to the systematic discrimination 
        and harassment of women and girls in Afghanistan;
            (3) should encourage efforts to procure a durable peace in 
        Afghanistan and should support the efforts of the United 
        Nations Special Envoy Secretary General Lakhdar Brahimi to 
        assist in brokering a peaceful resolution to years of conflict;
            (4) should call upon all countries with influence to use 
        their influence on the contending factions to end the fighting 
        and come to the negotiating table, abide by internationally 
        recognized norms of behavior, cease human rights violations, 
        end provision of safe haven to terrorists and close terrorist 
        training camps, and reverse discriminatory policies against 
        women and girls;
            (5) should call upon all nations to cease providing 
        financial assistance, arms, and other kinds of support to the 
        militaries or political organizations of any factions in 
        Afghanistan; and
            (6) should support efforts by Aghan individuals to 
        establish a cessation of hostilities and a transitional 
        multiparty government leading to freedom, respect for human 
        rights, and free and fair elections.

            Passed the House of Representatives November 9, 1997.

            Attest:

                                                ROBIN H. CARLE,

                                                                 Clerk.