[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Con. Res. 26 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

  1st Session
S. CON. RES. 26

Condemning the punishment of execution by stoning as a gross violation 
                of human rights, and for other purposes.


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                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             March 20, 2003

Ms. Landrieu (for herself, Mr. Hagel, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Daschle, Mr. 
        Leahy, Mr. Specter, Mr. Bingaman, Mr. Inouye, and Mr. Breaux) 
        submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was 
        referred to the Committee on Foreign RelationsYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

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                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
Condemning the punishment of execution by stoning as a gross violation 
                of human rights, and for other purposes.

Whereas execution by stoning is an exceptionally cruel form of punishment that 
        violates internationally accepted standards of human rights, including 
        those set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the 
        International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the Convention 
        Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or 
        Punishment;
Whereas women around the world continue to be targeted disproportionately for 
        cruel, discriminatory, and inhuman punishments by governments that 
        refuse to protect equally the rights of all their citizens;
Whereas the brutal sentence of execution by stoning is pronounced in many 
        countries on women who have been accused of adultery, a charge that is 
        brought even against victims of coerced prostitution or rape;
Whereas in some places execution by stoning has been invoked as punishment for 
        ``blasphemy,'' thereby suppressing religious freedom and diversity and 
        stifling political dissent;
Whereas, in July 2002, Amnesty International referred to execution by stoning as 
        ``a method specifically designed to increase the victim's suffering'';
Whereas, in 2002, the European Union, the Secretary General of the Council of 
        Europe, the Government of Australia, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and 
        Trade of New Zealand, the President of Mexico, the Congress of Deputies 
        of Spain, and other world leaders all condemned execution by stoning and 
        called for clemency for individuals sentenced to stoning; and
Whereas, according to the Country Reports on Human Rights Practices of the 
        Department of State, the sentence of execution by stoning continues to 
        be imposed in several countries: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), 
That Congress--
            (1) condemns the practice of execution by stoning as a 
        gross violation of human rights and appeals to the 
        international community to end the practice;
            (2) requests the President formally to communicate this 
        resolution to governments that permit this cruel punishment and 
        to urge the termination of execution by stoning; and
            (3) requests the President to direct the Secretary of State 
        to work with the international community to promote adherence 
        to international standards of human rights and repeal laws that 
        permit execution by stoning.
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