[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 88 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







107th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 88

 Expressing the sense of the Senate on the importance of membership of 
    the United States on the United Nations Human Rights Commission.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 14, 2001

  Mr. Kennedy (for himself, Mr. Lugar, Mr. Leahy, Mr. Brownback, Mr. 
 Biden, Ms. Snowe, Mr. Kerry, Mr. Smith of Oregon, Mr. Torricelli, Mr. 
Chafee, Mr. Corzine, Mr. Allen, Mr. Akaka, Mr. Lieberman, Mr. Bayh, Mr. 
Bingaman, Mr. Feingold, Mr. Levin, Mr. Reed, Mr. Kohl, Mr. Durbin, Mr. 
Johnson, Mr. Sarbanes, Mr. Wellstone, Mrs. Boxer, Mr. McCain, and Mrs. 
Clinton) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
                     Committee on Foreign Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Expressing the sense of the Senate on the importance of membership of 
    the United States on the United Nations Human Rights Commission.

Whereas the United States played a critical role in drafting the Universal 
        Declaration of Human Rights, which outlines the universal rights 
        promoted and protected by the United Nations Human Rights Commission;
Whereas the United Nations Human Rights Commission is the most important and 
        visible international entity dealing with the promotion and protection 
        of universal human rights and is the main policy-making entity dealing 
        with human rights issues within the United Nations;
Whereas the 53 member governments of the United Nations Human Rights Commission 
        prepare studies, make recommendations, draft international human rights 
        conventions and declarations, investigate allegations of human rights 
        violations, and handle communications relating to human rights;
Whereas the United States has held a seat on the United Nations Human Rights 
        Commission since its creation in 1947;
Whereas the United States has worked in the United Nations Human Rights 
        Commission for 54 years to improve respect for human rights throughout 
        the world;
Whereas the United Nations Human Rights Commission adopted significant 
        resolutions condemning ongoing human rights abuses in Cuba, Iran, Iraq, 
        Chechnya, Congo, Afghanistan, Equatorial Guinea, Burundi, Rwanda, Burma, 
        and Sierra Leone in April, 2001, with the support of the United States;
Whereas, on May 3, 2001, the United States was not re-elected to membership in 
        the United Nations Human Rights Commission;
Whereas some of the countries elected to the United Nations Human Rights 
        Commission have been the subject of resolutions by the Commission citing 
        them for human rights abuses; and
Whereas it is important for the United States to be a member of the United 
        Nations Human Rights Commission in order to promote human rights 
        worldwide most effectively: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that--
            (1) the United States has made important contributions to 
        the United Nations Human Rights Commission for the past 54 
        years;
            (2) the recent loss of membership of the United States on 
        the United Nations Human Rights Commission is a setback for 
        human rights throughout the world; and
            (3) the Administration should work with the European allies 
        of the United States and other nations to restore the 
        membership of the United States on the United Nations Human 
        Rights Commission.
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