[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 186 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]







109th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 186

   Affirming the importance of a national weekend of prayer for the 
 victims of genocide and crimes against humanity in Darfur, Sudan, and 
   expressing the sense of the Senate that July 15 through 17, 2005, 
should be designated as a national weekend of prayer and reflection for 
                         the people of Darfur.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              July 1, 2005

 Mr. Brownback (for himself, Mr. Corzine, Mr. Coburn, Mr. DeWine, Mr. 
Durbin, Mr. Kerry, and Mr. Salazar) submitted the following resolution; 
                   which was considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
   Affirming the importance of a national weekend of prayer for the 
 victims of genocide and crimes against humanity in Darfur, Sudan, and 
   expressing the sense of the Senate that July 15 through 17, 2005, 
should be designated as a national weekend of prayer and reflection for 
                         the people of Darfur.

Whereas, on July 22, 2004, Congress declared that genocide was taking place in 
        Darfur, Sudan;
Whereas, on September 9, 2004, Secretary of State Colin L. Powell testified to 
        the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations that ``genocide has been 
        committed in Darfur'';
Whereas, on September 21, 2004, President George W. Bush stated to the United 
        Nations General Assembly that ``the world is witnessing terrible 
        suffering and horrible crimes in the Darfur region of Sudan, crimes my 
        government has concluded are genocide'';
Whereas Article 1 of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the 
        Crime of Genocide, done at Paris December 9, 1948, and entered into 
        force January 12, 1951, states that ``[t]he Contracting Parties confirm 
        that genocide, whether committed in time of peace or in time of war, is 
        a crime under international law which they undertake to prevent and 
        punish'';
Whereas fundamental human rights, including the right to freedom of thought, 
        conscience, and religion, are protected in numerous international 
        agreements and declarations;
Whereas the United Nations Security Council, in Security Council Resolution 
        1591, condemned the ``continued violations of the N'djamena Ceasefire 
        Agreement of 8 April 2004 and the Abuja Protocols of 9 November 2004 by 
        all sides in Darfur and the deterioration of the security situation and 
        negative impact this has had on humanitarian assistance efforts'';
Whereas President Bush declared on June 30, 2005, ``Yet the violence in Darfur 
        region is clearly genocide. The human cost is beyond calculation.'';
Whereas it is estimated that more than 2,000,000 people have been displaced from 
        their homes and remain in camps in Darfur, Chad, and elsewhere;
Whereas while United States government assistance and African Union monitoring 
        has mitigated violence in some regions of Darfur, religious leaders, 
        genocide survivors, and world leaders have expressed grave concern, over 
        the atrocities still occurring there and for the thousands that may 
        still be dying; and
Whereas it is appropriate that the people of the United States, leaders and 
        citizens alike, unite in prayer for the people of Darfur and reflect 
        upon the situation in Darfur: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate--
            (1) that the weekend of July 15 through 17, 2005, should be 
        designated as a National Weekend of Prayer and Reflection for 
        the people of Darfur, Sudan;
            (2) to encourage the people of the United States to observe 
        that weekend by praying for an end to the genocide and crimes 
        against humanity and for lasting peace in Darfur, Sudan; and
            (3) to urge all churches, synagogues, mosques, and 
        religious institutions in the United States to consider the 
        people of Darfur in their activities and to observe the 
        National Weekend of Prayer and Reflection with appropriate 
        activities and services.
                                 <all>