[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Con. Res. 6 Referred in House (RFH)]

  1st Session
S. CON. RES. 6


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                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 21, 1997

          Referred to the Committee on International Relations

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                         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 forces affiliated with Burhanuddin Rabbani and Abdul Rashid 
        Dostum are responsible for numerous abhorrent human rights abuses, 
        including the rape, sexual abuse, torture, abduction, and persecution of 
        women and girls;
Whereas Congress is disturbed by the upsurge of reported human rights abuses in 
        Taliban-controlled territory, including extreme restrictions placed on 
        women and girls;
Whereas the Taliban have provided safe haven to suspected terrorists and may be 
        allowing terrorist training camps to operate in territory under its 
        control;
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 Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), 
That (a) Congress hereby--
            (1) deplores the violations of international humanitarian 
        law by the Taliban coalition in Afghanistan and raises concern 
        over the reported cases of stoning, public executions, and 
        street beatings;
            (2) condemns the Taliban's 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.
    (b) It is the sense of Congress that the President should--
            (1) continue to monitor the human rights situation in 
        Afghanistan and should call for adherence by all factions in 
        Afghanistan to international humanitarian law;
            (2) call for an end to the systematic discrimination and 
        harassment of women and girls in Afghanistan;
            (3) encourage efforts to procure a durable peace in 
        Afghanistan and should support the United Nations Special 
        Mission to Afghanistan led by Norbert Holl to assist in 
        brokering a peaceful resolution to years of conflict;
            (4) call upon the Government of Pakistan to use its good 
        offices with the Taliban to cease human rights violations, end 
        provision of safe haven to terrorists and terrorist training 
        camps, and reverse discriminatory policies against women and 
        girls;
            (5) call upon other nations to cease providing financial 
        assistance, arms, and other kinds of support to the militaries 
        or political organizations of any of the warring factions in 
        Afghanistan; and
            (6) undertake a review of United States policy toward 
        Afghanistan.
    Sec. 2. The Secretary of the Senate shall transmit a copy of this 
concurrent resolution to the President with the request that he further 
transmit such copy to the United Nations and relevant parties in 
Afghanistan.

            Passed the Senate May 20, 1997.

            Attest:

                                                    GARY SISCO,

                                                             Secretary.