[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 185 Introduced in House (IH)]







105th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 185

   Expressing the sense of the Congress on the occasion of the 50th 
anniversary of the signing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 
 and recommitting the United States to the principles expressed in the 
                         Universal Declaration.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            November 7, 1997

   Mr. Lantos (for himself, Mr. Porter, Mr. Smith of New Jersey, Mr. 
 Abercrombie, Ms. Brown of Florida, Mr. Brown of Ohio, Mr. Cardin, Mr. 
Hall of Ohio, Mr. Leach, Mr. Maloney of Connecticut, Mr. McDermott, Mr. 
Meehan, Mr. Menendez, Ms. Norton, Mr. Snyder, and Ms. Pelosi) submitted 
    the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the 
                  Committee on International Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
   Expressing the sense of the Congress on the occasion of the 50th 
anniversary of the signing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 
 and recommitting the United States to the principles expressed in the 
                         Universal Declaration.

Whereas on December 10, 1948, the General Assembly of the United Nations 
        proclaimed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, after it was 
        adopted by the General Assembly without a dissenting vote;
Whereas the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was modeled on the Bill of 
        Rights of the United States Constitution and it was developed with 
        strong United States leadership, and in particular the personal 
        involvement of Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt, who served as Chair of the United 
        Nations Human Rights Commission;
Whereas the Universal Declaration of Human Rights sets forth fundamental human 
        rights including the right to life, liberty, and security of person; 
        freedom of religion; freedom of opinion and expression; freedom of 
        assembly; self-government through free elections; freedom from slavery 
        and torture; the right to a fair trial and to equality before the law; 
        presumption of innocence until proved guilty; the right not to be 
        subjected to retroactive laws; freedom of movement within one's state 
        and freedom to leave or return to it; the right of asylum; the right to 
        a nationality; the right to found a family; the right to privacy; the 
        right to own property; to social security and to work; the right to form 
        and join trade unions; the right to an adequate standard of living, to 
        education, and to rest and leisure; and the right to participation in 
        the cultural life of the community;
Whereas the Universal Declaration of Human Rights has become the most widely 
        accepted statement identifying human rights and is referred to in 
        resolutions and covenants adopted by numerous international 
        organizations, in multilateral and bilateral treaties, in national 
        constitutions, and in local laws and decrees; and
Whereas the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, though it is not a treaty or 
        a binding international agreement, it is ``a common standard of 
        achievement for all peoples and all nations'': Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That the Congress--
            (1) reaffirms the commitment of the United States to the 
        fundamental human rights enunciated half a century ago in the 
        Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which are a reflection 
        of the fundamental civil and human rights that are enshrined in 
        the Declaration of Independence and in the United States 
        Constitution, and in particular in the Bill of Rights;
            (2) expresses the determination to work for the 
        implementation of and observance of international human rights 
        and international human rights agreements; and
            (3) urges the government leaders of all nations, 
        representatives of private international human rights 
        organizations, business and labor leaders, local government 
        officials, and all Americans to use the Universal Declaration 
        of Human Rights as an instrument to promote tolerance, 
        understanding, and greater respect for human rights.
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