[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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