[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3342 Introduced in House (IH)]
107th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3342
To require activities carried out by the United States in Afghanistan
and other countries of Central Asia relating to peace negotiations,
post-conflict reconstruction and development, refugee relief,
resettlement, and repatriation, and peacekeeping operations comply with
the basic human rights of women.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
November 19, 2001
Mrs. Morella (for herself and Mrs. Maloney of New York) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on International
Relations
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require activities carried out by the United States in Afghanistan
and other countries of Central Asia relating to peace negotiations,
post-conflict reconstruction and development, refugee relief,
resettlement, and repatriation, and peacekeeping operations comply with
the basic human rights of women.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Access for Afghan Women Act of
2001''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) Before 1996, women in Afghanistan could exercise their
basic human rights and 70 percent of teachers, nurses, doctors,
and small business owners in Afghanistan were women.
(2) More than 90 percent of Afghan men and women believe
that women should have access to education and work, freedom of
expression, legal protection, and participation in government.
Respondents also support the inclusion of women's human rights
issues in any peace negotiations with respect to Afghanistan.
(3) Women make up more than 75 percent of the refugees in
camps, urban areas, and villages in Afghanistan. On the
Afghanistan border with Pakistan many organizations, including
women's organizations, are delivering critical services to
refugees and such women's organizations have the knowledge and
experience to assist the United States in delivering effective
relief aid to women.
(4) The active participation of women in the government,
economy, and society of Afghanistan is necessary to ensure
lasting peace in the region.
(5) During major conflicts in the region, women have
maintained local economies and have led the effort in
rebuilding economies after conflicts. Effective development and
reconstruction assistance, including microcredit assistance,
takes into account women's roles as economic leaders.
SEC. 3. REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO UNITED STATES ACTIVITIES IN CENTRAL
ASIAN COUNTRIES.
(a) In General.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law,
activities described in subsections (b) through (e) that are carried
out by the United States in Afghanistan and other countries of Central
Asia shall comply with the applicable requirements contained in such
subsections.
(b) Peace Negotiations To Establish Government of Afghanistan.--
With respect to peace negotiations to establish a future government of
Afghanistan, the applicable requirements are the following:
(1) Consult with and include representatives of women's
organizations and networks from the major ethnic groups in
Afghanistan during peace negotiations and post-conflict
decisionmaking.
(2) Include the perspectives and advice of organizations
with expertise in human rights and women's development in
decisionmaking processes relating to peace and the future
government of Afghanistan.
(3) Ensure that the full range of human rights of women, as
described in the International Convention on Civil and
Political Rights and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,
are included in any constitution or legal structure of a future
government in Afghanistan by including a significant number of
women in the drafting of the constitution.
(c) Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development.--With respect to
activities relating to post-conflict stability in Afghanistan and other
countries of Central Asia, the applicable requirements are the
following:
(1) Provide financial and programmatic assistance for the
efforts of Afghan women's organizations that represent the
various ethnic groups.
(2) Promote multi-year women-centered economic development
programs, including programs to assist widows and female heads
of household.
(3) Increase women's access to and ownership of productive
assets such as land, agricultural inputs, and microfinance, and
property.
(4) Provide financial assistance for primary, secondary,
and higher education for all individuals in Afghanistan.
(5) Provide financial assistance to build health
infrastructure and to deliver women-centered health programs,
particularly comprehensive and high quality reproductive health
and family planning services.
(6) Integrate education and training programs for former
combatants with economic development programs to encourage
their reintegration into society and to promote post-conflict
stability.
(7) Support educational efforts to increase awareness with
respect to landmines, facilitate the removal of landmines, and
provide services to individuals with disabilities caused by
landmines.
(8) Provide assistance to rehabilitate children affected by
the conflict, particularly child soldiers.
(d) Relief, Resettlement, and Repatriation of Refugees.--With
respect to the relief, resettlement, and repatriation of refugees in
Afghanistan and other countries of Central Asia, the applicable
requirements are the following:
(1)(A) Take all necessary steps to protect women refugees
in camps, urban areas, and villages fleeing from the conflict
situation in Afghanistan from violence.
(B) Take all necessary steps to ensure that women refugees
in camps, urban areas, and villages fleeing from the conflict
situation in Afghanistan are directly receiving food aid,
shelter, relief supplies, and other services from United
States-sponsored programs.
(C) Take all necessary steps to ensure that women refugees
in camps, urban areas, and villages are accessing high quality
health and medical services, particularly reproductive,
maternal, and child health services.
(2) Take all necessary steps to ensure that refugees that
choose to return voluntarily to their place of origin can do so
in safety, dignity, and with protection of their rights. United
States-sponsored efforts shall not coerce or encourage refugees
to return to their places of origin.
(e) Peacekeeping Operations.--With respect to peacekeeping
operations in Afghanistan and other countries of Central Asia, the
applicable requirements are the following:
(1) In preparation for deployment of peacekeeping missions,
provide training, guidelines, and materials to military,
police, and civilian personnel on the protection, rights, and
the particular needs of women, as well as on the importance of
involving women in all peacekeeping and peace building
measures.
(2) Encourage individuals and organizations that will
provide training to consult with women's organizations within
and outside of Afghanistan and other countries of Central Asia
to develop appropriate training content and materials.
(f) Definition.--In this section, the term ``other countries of
Central Asia'' means Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan,
and Uzbekistan.
SEC. 4. REPORT.
Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act,
the President shall prepare and transmit to Congress a report that
contains documentation (including documentation using data
disaggregated by gender) of the progress in implementing the
requirements of section 3.
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