[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 65 (Monday, May 14, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4895-S4896]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  STATEMENTS ON SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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    SENATE RESOLUTION 88--EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE SENATE ON THE 
  IMPORTANCE OF MEMBERSHIP OF THE UNITED STATES ON THE UNITED NATIONS 
                        HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION

  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:

                               S. Res. 88

       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.

                               S. Res. 88

  Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, today, Senator Lugar and I are 
introducing a resolution expressing our concern over the recent loss of 
the U.S. seat on the United Nations Human Rights Commission. We are 
pleased that Senators Leahy, Brownback, Biden, Snowe, Kerry, Gordon 
Smith, Torricelli, Chafee, Corzine, Allen, Akaka, Lieberman, Bayh, 
Bingaman, Feingold, Levin, Reed, Kohl, Durbin, Johnson, Sarbanes, 
Wellstone, and Boxer are cosponsors of this resolution.
  We are deeply concerned that in the vote on May 3, the United States 
was not re-elected to membership on the Commission. The Commission is 
the most important and visible international body dealing with the 
promotion and protection of human rights and is the main policy-making 
organization dealing with human rights issues in the United Nations. 
The 53 member governments of the 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.
  The United States has held a seat on the Commission since its 
creation in 1947 and has worked effectively through the Commission for 
the past

[[Page S4896]]

fifty-four years to improve respect for human rights throughout the 
world. It is essential for the United States to regain its position on 
the Commission and to continue to promote human rights worldwide.
  The loss of membership on the Commission is a diplomatic setback for 
the United States and for human rights worldwide. Our resolution 
emphasizes the important contributions of the U.S. to the Commission, 
and it urges the Administration to work with our European allies and 
other nations to restore the membership of the United States on the 
United Nations Human Rights Commission as soon as possible.
  I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

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