[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 99 Introduced in House (IH)]







106th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 99

  Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding the 
                    human rights situation in Cuba.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 9, 1999

    Ms. Ros-Lehtinen (for herself, Mr. Diaz-Balart, Mr. Gilman, Mr. 
   Menendez, Mr. Smith of New Jersey, Mr. Franks of New Jersey, Mr. 
   Deutsch, Mr. Rohrabacher, Mr. Rothman, Mr. Burton of Indiana, Mr. 
  Wexler, Mr. Kennedy of Rhode Island, and Mr. Sherman) submitted the 
     following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 
                        International Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding the 
                    human rights situation in Cuba.

Whereas the United Nations Commission on Human Rights in Geneva, Switzerland, 
        provides a forum for discussing the human rights situation throughout 
        the world, for condemning abuses and gross violations of these 
        liberties, and for establishing an international mechanism to express 
        support for the protection and defense of these inherent natural rights;
Whereas the actions taken by the United Nations Commission on Human Rights 
        establish precedents for further courses of action and send messages to 
        the international community that the protection and promotion of human 
        rights is a priority;
Whereas the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which guides global human 
        rights policy asserts that all human beings are born free and live in 
        dignity with rights;
Whereas international human rights organizations, the Inter-American Commission 
        on Human Rights, and the Department of State all concur that the 
        Government of Cuba continues to systematically violate the fundamental 
        civil and political rights of its citizens;
Whereas it is carefully documented that the Government of Cuba propagates and 
        encourages the routine harassment, intimidation, arbitrary arrest, 
        detention, imprisonment, and defamation of those who voice their 
        opposition against the government;
Whereas the Government of Cuba engages in torture and other cruel, inhumane, and 
        degrading treatment or punishment against political prisoners including 
        the use of electroshock, intense beatings, and extended periods of 
        solitary confinement without nutrition or medical attention, to force 
        them into submission;
Whereas the Government of Cuba suppresses the right to freedom of expression and 
        freedom of association and recently enacted legislation which carries 
        penalties of up to 30 years for dissidents and independent journalists;
Whereas religious freedom in Cuba is severely circumscribed and clergy and lay 
        people suffer sustained persecution by the Cuban State Security 
        apparatus;
Whereas the Government of Cuba continues to violate the rights of the child by 
        engaging in child labor and the exploitation of child prostitution;
Whereas the Government of Cuba routinely restricts workers' rights including the 
        right to form independent unions;
Whereas the Government of Cuba denies its people equal protection under the law, 
        enforcing a judicial system which infringes upon fundamental rights 
        while denying recourse against the violation of human rights and civil 
        liberties;
Whereas in recent weeks the Government of Cuba has carried out a brutal 
        crackdown of the brave internal opposition and independent press, 
        arresting scores of peaceful opponents without cause or justification;
Whereas the internal opposition in Cuba is working intensely and valiantly to 
        draw international attention to Cuba's deplorable human rights situation 
        and continues to strengthen and grow in its opposition to the Government 
        of Cuba;
Whereas at this time of great repression, the internal opposition requires and 
        deserves the firm and unwavering support and solidarity of the 
        international community;
Whereas the Congress of the United States has stood, consistently, on the side 
        of the Cuban people and supported their right to be free: Now therefore, 
        be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) condemns in the strongest possible terms the repressive 
        crackdown by the Government of Cuba against the brave internal 
        opposition and the independent press;
            (2) expresses its profound admiration and firm solidarity 
        with the internal opposition and independent press of Cuba;
            (3) demands that the Government of Cuba release all 
        political prisoners, legalize all political parties, labor 
        unions, and the press, and schedule free and fair elections;
            (4) urges the Administration, at the 55th Session of the 
        United Nations Human Rights Commission in Geneva, Switzerland, 
        to take all steps necessary to secure international support 
        for, and passage of, a resolution which condemns the Cuban 
        Government for its gross abuses of the rights of the Cuban 
        people and for continued violations of all international human 
        rights standards and legal principles, and calls for the 
        reinstatement of the United Nations Special Rapporteur for 
        Human Rights in Cuba;
            (5) declares the acts of the Castro regime, including its 
        widespread and systematic violation of human rights, to be in 
        violation of the charter of the United Nations and the 
        Universal Declaration of Human Rights;
            (6) urges the President to nominate a special envoy to 
        advocate, internationally, for the establishment of the rule of 
        law for the Cuban people;
            (7) urges the President to actively seek support from 
        individual nations, as well as the United Nations, the 
        Organization of American States, the European Union, and all 
        other international organizations to call for the establishment 
        of the rule of law for the Cuban people; and
            (8) declares that the rule of law for the Cuban people 
        should guarantee each and every fundamental and inalienable 
        right.
                                 <all>