[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 45 (Thursday, March 20, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4180-S4181]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 26--CONDEMNING THE PUNISHMENT OF EXECUTION 
BY STONING AS A GROSS VIOLATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

  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 Relations:

                            S. Con. Res. 26

       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;

[[Page S4181]]

       (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.

  Ms. LANDRIEU. Mr. President, I rise today to submit a Concurrent 
Resolution to condemn executions by stoning.
  Death by stoning is an exceptionally cruel form of execution. It 
violates internationally accepted standards of human rights, including 
the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the UN Convention Against 
Torture. Amnesty International has noted that stoning is ``a method 
specifically designed to increase the victim's suffering.'' 
Unfortunately, the laws of Iran, Pakistan, Malaysia, Nigeria, and 
several other countries permit this cruel and unusual punishment. It 
must be eliminated from every corner of the globe.
  As those who work on women's issues have learned all too well, women 
around the world are subjected disproportionately to cruel, 
discriminatory, and inhuman punishments. Frequently their governments 
cannot or will not provide equal protection of the law to all their 
citizens--especially women and girls. In several countries, women can 
be sentenced to execution by stoning for ``adultery,'' even in cases of 
coerced prostitution or rape. In some places, stoning has been invoked 
as punishment for ``blasphemy,'' suppressing religious freedom and 
stifling political dissent.
  The Concurrent Resolution which I have introduced would condemn 
execution by stoning, appeal for an end to the practice, and request 
the President to urge other nations' governments to terminate that 
cruel form of execution. If adopted by the Senate, this measure, 
together with Concurrent Resolution 26 just passed unanimously by the 
House, would put both houses of Congress on the record as firmly 
opposing stonings.
  I urge my colleagues to join the eight original co-sponsors and me in 
supporting this humanitarian measure.

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