[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1257 Introduced in House (IH)]

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116th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1257

              Recognizing International Human Rights Day.


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                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           December 10, 2020

 Mr. Diaz-Balart (for himself and Mr. McCaul) submitted the following 
   resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
              Recognizing International Human Rights Day.

Whereas the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of 
        Human Rights on December 10, 1948;
Whereas human rights activists and organizations around the world continue to 
        mark International Human Rights Day as a time to call for global 
        recognition of human rights;
Whereas the preamble to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that 
        ``recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable 
        rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, 
        justice and peace in the world'';
Whereas the Universal Declaration of Human Rights lists the freedoms of 
        expression, religious belief, political opinion, independent media, 
        access to information, due process, democratic governance, and the right 
        to property among the inalienable rights belonging to every person;
Whereas the United Nations Human Rights Council, while founded on sound 
        principles, has failed to fulfill its mission of promoting human rights 
        in the most repressed areas of the world;
Whereas the Council, which has 47 members at a time, has included some of the 
        world's worst human rights abusers, such as Cuba, the People's Republic 
        of China (PRC), Russia, and Nicaragua, and currently the Council 
        includes Cuba, Eritrea, and the Maduro regime of Venezuela within its 
        membership;
Whereas the United States announced its withdrawal from the Council on June 19, 
        2018, due to the organization's profound need for reform, and its myopic 
        focus on criticism of Israel, a democratic country that respects human 
        rights;
Whereas grave human rights abuses in Cuba, Nicaragua, and Venezuela should be 
        addressed thoroughly by the Council, particularly in regard to 
        documented cases of arbitrary or extrajudicial killings, torture, 
        persecution for political opinion or religious belief, imprisonment of 
        political opponents, media censorship, and suppression of the rights to 
        speech and assembly;
Whereas, in October and November 2020, the regime in Cuba brutally arrested 
        prodemocracy activists and artists, including members of the San Isidro 
        Movement, some of whom engaged in a hunger strike to protest the 
        wrongful imprisonment of those expressing opposition to repression and 
        censorship;
Whereas, on December 2, 2020, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights 
        (IACHR) announced the publication of a report, ``People Who Have Been 
        Deprived of Their Liberty During the Human Rights Crisis in Nicaragua 
        That Began on April 18, 2018'', detailing the arbitrary detention, 
        sexual violence, and harassment that have been used in Nicaragua in 
        retaliation against those protesting the Ortega regime;
Whereas the UN International Independent Fact-Finding Mission (FFM) on Venezuela 
        issued a report on September 16, 2020, regarding nearly 3,000 cases 
        involving human rights abuses, with the FFM's chairperson Marta Valinas 
        stating of the report, ``The Mission found reasonable grounds to believe 
        that Venezuelan authorities and security forces have since 2014 planned 
        and executed serious human rights violations, some of which--including 
        arbitrary killings and the systematic use of torture--amount to crimes 
        against humanity'', and further stating that, ``Far from being isolated 
        acts, these crimes were coordinated and committed pursuant to State 
        policies, with the knowledge or direct support of commanding officers 
        and senior government officials'';
Whereas grave human rights abuses in the PRC should be addressed by the Council, 
        particularly in regard to internment camps, abusive population controls 
        including forced and coerced birth control and sterilizations, the 
        eradication of the language and culture of minority populations 
        including Uyghurs, persecution for political opinion or religious 
        belief, media censorship, forced ``disappearances'', organ harvesting of 
        the Falun Gong, oppression of the people of Tibet, torture, and 
        arbitrary or extrajudicial killings;
Whereas Russia's grave human rights abuses should be addressed by the Council, 
        particularly in regard to persecution and imprisonment of political 
        opponents and civic activists, crackdown on independent media, gross 
        violations of freedom of religion, targeted assassinations of 
        journalists and political opponents, and the expulsion of human rights 
        and democracy organizations;
Whereas, in 2018, the Council condemned Eritrea's human rights abuses, 
        documented by the U.N. Special Rapporteur on the situation of human 
        rights in Eritrea, to include ``arbitrary detention, enforced 
        disappearances, torture and sexual violence and forced labor'' in 2018, 
        and other human rights groups have condemned Eritrea's political and 
        religious persecution, but nonetheless, Eritrea was welcomed as a Member 
        of the Council later that year;
Whereas UN Resolution 60/251 declares that ``members elected to the [Human 
        Rights] Council members shall uphold the highest standards in the 
        promotion and protection of human rights'';
Whereas commemoration of International Human Rights Day should include 
        particular focus on countries with the world's worst human rights 
        records such as Cuba, the PRC, Russia, Nicaragua, and Venezuela;
Whereas the United States should continue its important work with countries, 
        nongovernmental organizations, and human rights activists to promote 
        greater respect for human rights in the most repressed areas of the 
        world; and
Whereas respect for human rights is essential to promotion of other fundamental 
        goals for a flourishing civil society, rule of law, good governance, 
        economic prosperity, and regional stability: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) recognizes the importance of promoting human rights 
        throughout the world;
            (2) honors the independent journalists, human rights 
        attorneys, human rights and prodemocracy activists, political 
        prisoners, nongovernmental organizations, and free countries 
        for their selfless dedication to promoting human rights;
            (3) remembers the sacrifices of those who have languished 
        under oppression, suffered for demanding respect for basic 
        human rights, or perished as a result of their advocacy for 
        human rights;
            (4) celebrates the commemoration of 72 years of progress 
        toward greater respect for human rights; and
            (5) acknowledges that all countries must continue to work 
        toward universal respect for human rights.
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