[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 26 (Tuesday, March 8, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2259-S2262]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. BIDEN (for himself and Mr. Lugar):
  S. 559. A bill to make the protection of vulnerable populations, 
especially women and children, who are affected by a humanitarian 
emergency a priority of the United States Government, and for other 
purposes; to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
  Mr. BIDEN. Mr. President, as we stand here today women and children 
are suffering the ravages and privations of war and natural disasters. 
They are suffering food shortages and lack the most basic necessities 
in so many nations around the world. Five million people have been 
affected by the tsunami. Of that 5 million, 1.5 million are children, 
many alone and parentless, vulnerable to human trafficking, forced 
recruitment into military service or worse.
  We can help. We can do our share by making sure U.S. programs do 
their share.
  Today, I am introducing--along with Senator Lugar--the Protection of 
Vulnerable Populations During Humanitarian Emergencies Act of 2005, to 
make vulnerable people, especially women and children, an absolute 
priority of our foreign assistance programs. As a Nation, as a people, 
we probably should do more, but we certainly can do no less than to 
ensure the international community has a system in place to prevent the 
exploitation of so many lost, vulnerable, suffering women and children 
who are struggling to survive the most God-awful conditions imaginable.
  Over the past fifty years the nature of war has changed dramatically. 
In today's world, 90 percent of the casualties in any war are 
civilians, most of them women and children. Since 1990, more than 2 
million children have been killed, and 6 million maimed or injured as a 
result of a war somewhere in this world.
  It is extraordinary to think that, in what we believe is the most 
sophisticated, technologically advanced period in world history, rape 
has become a routine weapon of war used at will by bands of marauding 
military forces--some of them young boys--everywhere from Burma to 
Bosnia, and from Sierra Leone to Sudan.
  Forced displacement of civilians, rather than being one of the 
unfortunate results of war is now a deliberate tactic of war.
  Look at Darfur in the last 18 months.
  Civilians have been targeted by Khartoum in one of the most horrific 
genocides we have seen in recent years. Homes have been bombed, and 
villages attacked. Government sponsored militia are destroying crops 
and have fouled the water supply. They're burning homes, leaving 
mothers no choice but to flee for their lives and their children's 
lives.

  Civilians forced to flee during war find their way to camps, but 
instead of relative safety what do they find? They find more suffering. 
The camps become virtual prisons. Women and girls are beaten and raped 
if they venture outside the camps for firewood.
  When I recently read a report by a United Nations investigatory team 
which states that a number of U.N. peacekeepers--U.N. peacekeepers, 
mind you--deployed to protect civilians from ethnic violence in the 
eastern Democratic Republic of Congo were sexually exploiting girls as 
young as 13 years old, it reinforced my belief that we cannot stand by 
any longer. Something must be done and this bill only begins to do it. 
Let me read you what that report said:

       Interviews with Congolese women and girls confirmed that 
     sexual contact with peacekeepers occurred with regularity, 
     usually in exchange for food or small sums of money . . .''
       . . . ``Many of the contacts involved girls under the age 
     of 18.''

  What's more horrifying to me: the investigators found that the abuse 
was going on while they were there, on the ground, conducting the 
investigation. These incidents as well as allegations of sexual 
exploitation by camp residents and humanitarian workers in refugee 
camps in West Africa and Nepal in 2002 are incredible, real life 
examples of the sad fact that women and children remain vulnerable even 
in the very places they flee for safety.
  This bill seeks to do something about it.
  It enhances the U.S. government's ability to see that women and 
children are protected before, during, and after a complex humanitarian 
emergency. It directs the Secretary of State to designate a special 
coordinator for protection issues who will be charged with

[[Page S2260]]

making sure our embassies and consular posts are made aware of the 
warning signs that an emergency which may put the lives and safety of 
women and children at risk is imminent.
  It directs the coordinator to compile a watch list of such countries 
and regions so that the Agency for International Development can plan 
to meet potential need. It prohibits U.S. funding for relief agencies 
that do not sign a code of conduct that outlaws improper exploitative 
relationships between aid workers and recipients.
  It expresses the Sense of Congress that the U.N. Department of 
Peacekeeping Operations should improve its mechanism to prevent and 
respond to allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse by 
peacekeepers.
  It establishes a fellowship with the AID for someone with expertise 
and skills in preventing and responding to violence and exploitation of 
those made vulnerable by war.
  It calls upon the United States Executive Director of the 
International Bank of Reconstruction and Development to try to make 
sure World Bank demobilization, disarmament, and reintegration programs 
extend the same benefits that ex-combatants receive to women and 
children who were associated with them.
  As it now stands, women and children who were used as cooks and 
porters and so called ``wives,'' a euphemism for women who were 
kidnaped to serve as sexual slaves, may well not be given a single 
thing through these programs--nothing with which to rebuild their lives 
despite the fact that they were not there by choice. Yet the very 
people who forced them into such conditions receive assistance with no 
qualms or reservations.
  Finally, it amends the Foreign Assistance Act to authorize programs 
and activities specifically aimed at making people--especially women 
and children--who are affected by humanitarian emergencies safer from 
further exploitation and abuse.
  This bill is by no means a panacea, but it is a decent beginning. It 
is the least we can do to mitigate the extraordinary violence against 
women and children in times of war and natural disasters the results of 
which we see all too often in a world that seems to have gone mad.
  To do nothing in the face of it would be sinful, inhumane, and wrong.
  I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the 
Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                 S. 559

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Protection of Vulnerable 
     Populations During Humanitarian Emergencies Act of 2005''.

     SEC. 2. TABLE OF CONTENTS.

       The table of contents of this Act is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title.
Sec. 2. Table of contents.
Sec. 3. Definitions.
Sec. 4. Findings.

                TITLE I--PROGRAM AND POLICY COORDINATION

Sec. 101. Requirement to develop integrated strategy.
Sec. 102. Designation of coordinator.

                 TITLE II--PREVENTION AND PREPAREDNESS

Sec. 201. Reporting and monitoring systems.
Sec. 202. Protection training and expertise.

   TITLE III--PROTECTION OF REFUGEES AND INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS

Sec. 301. Codes of conduct.
Sec. 302. Health services for refugees and displaced persons.
Sec. 303. Economic self-sufficiency of vulnerable populations affected 
              by a humanitarian emergency.
Sec. 304. International military education and training.
Sec. 305. Sense of Congress regarding actions of United Nations 
              peacekepers.

     TITLE IV--PROTECTION OF VULNERABLE POPULATIONS AFFECTED BY A 
                         HUMANITARIAN EMERGENCY

Sec. 401. Report regarding programs to protect vulnerable populations.
Sec. 402. Protection assistance.

     SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (1) Agency.--The term ``Agency'' means the United States 
     Agency for International Development.
       (2) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term 
     ``appropriate congressional committees'' means the Committee 
     on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on 
     International Relations of the House of Representatives.
       (3) Children.--The term ``children'' means persons under 
     the age of 18 years.
       (4) Coordinator.--The term ``coordinator'' means the 
     individual designated by the Secretary under section 102(a).
       (5) Department.--The term ``Department'' means the 
     Department of State.
       (6) Exploitation of children.--The term ``exploitation of 
     children'' includes--
       (A) adult sexual activity with children;
       (B) kidnapping or forcibly separating children from their 
     families;
       (C) subjecting children to forced child labor;
       (D) forcing children to commit or witness acts of violence, 
     including compulsory recruitment into armed forces or as 
     combatants; and
       (E) withholding or obstructing access of children to food, 
     shelter, medicine, and basic human services.
       (7) HIV.--The term ``HIV'' means the human immunodeficiency 
     virus, the virus that causes the acquired immune deficiency 
     syndrome (AIDS).
       (8) Humanitarian emergency.--The term ``humanitarian 
     emergency'' means a situation in which, due to a natural or 
     manmade disaster, civilians, including refugees and 
     internally displaced persons, require basic humanitarian 
     assistance.
       (9) Inter-agency standing committee.--The term ``Inter-
     Agency Standing Committee'' means the Inter-Agency Standing 
     Committee established in response to United Nations General 
     Assembly Resolution 46/182 of December 19, 1991.
       (10) Protection.--The term ``protection'' means all 
     appropriate measures to provide the physical and 
     psychological security of, provide equal access to basic 
     services for, and safeguard the legal and human rights of, 
     individuals.
       (11) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of State.
       (12) Sex trafficking.--The term ``sex trafficking'' has the 
     meaning given the term in section 103 of Trafficking Victims 
     Protection Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 7102).
       (13) Sexual exploitation and abuse.--The term ``sexual 
     exploitation and abuse'' means causing harm to a person 
     through--
       (A) rape;
       (B) sexual assault or torture;
       (C) sex trafficking and trafficking in persons;
       (D) demands for sex in exchange for employment, goods, 
     services, or protection; and
       (E) other forms of sexual violence.
       (14) Trafficking in persons.--The term ``trafficking in 
     persons'' has the meaning given the term ``severe forms of 
     trafficking in persons'' in section 103 of Trafficking 
     Victims Protection Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 7102).
       (15) Vulnerable populations.--The term ``vulnerable 
     populations'' means those people, such as women, children, 
     the disabled, and the elderly, who by virtue of their status 
     are at a disadvantage in obtaining or accessing goods and 
     services.

     SEC. 4. FINDINGS.

       Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) The nature of war has changed dramatically in recent 
     decades, putting civilians, especially women and children, at 
     greater risk of death, disease, displacement, and 
     exploitation.
       (2) In the last decade alone, more than 2,000,000 children 
     have been killed during wars, while more than 4,000,000 have 
     survived physical mutilation, and more than 1,000,000 have 
     been orphaned or separated from their families as a result of 
     war.
       (3) The use of rape, particularly against women and girls, 
     is an increasingly common tactic in modern war.
       (4) Civilians, particularly women and children, account for 
     the vast majority of those adversely affected by humanitarian 
     emergencies, including as refugees and internally displaced 
     persons, and increasingly are targeted by combatants and 
     armed elements for murder, abduction, forced military 
     conscription, involuntary servitude, displacement, sexual 
     abuse and slavery, mutilation, and loss of freedom.
       (5) Large-scale natural disasters, such as the tsunami that 
     struck South East Asia, South Asia, and East Africa on 
     December 26, 2004, and claimed over 200,000 lives, are 
     particularly threatening to children, who are often orphaned 
     or separated from their families.
       (6) Traditionally, the response to such humanitarian 
     emergencies has focused on providing food, medical care, and 
     shelter needs, and has placed less emphasis on the safety and 
     security of those affected by a humanitarian emergency.
       (7) Refugee women and girls face particular threats because 
     of power inequities, including being forced to exchange sex 
     for food and humanitarian supplies, and being at increased 
     risk of rape and sexual exploitation and abuse due to poor 
     security in refugee camps.
       (8) In some circumstances, humanitarian agencies have 
     failed to make individuals affected by a humanitarian 
     emergency, especially women and children, aware of their 
     rights to protection and assistance, to give them access to 
     effective channels of redress, and to make humanitarian 
     workers aware of their duty to respect these rights and 
     provide adequate assistance.
       (9) Refugee and displaced women face heightened risks of 
     developing complications

[[Page S2261]]

     during pregnancy, suffering a miscarriage, dying, being 
     injured during childbirth, becoming infected with HIV or 
     another sexually transmitted infection, or suffering from 
     posttraumatic stress disorder.
       (10) Despite the heightened risks for women during a 
     humanitarian emergency, women's needs for specialized health 
     services have often been overlooked by donors and relief 
     organizations, which are focused on providing food, water, 
     and shelter.
       (11) There is a substantial need for the protection of 
     civilians, especially women and children, to be given a high 
     priority during all humanitarian emergencies.

                TITLE I--PROGRAM AND POLICY COORDINATION

     SEC. 101. REQUIREMENT TO DEVELOP COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGY.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary shall, in consultation with 
     the Administrator of the United States Agency for 
     International Development, develop a comprehensive strategy 
     for the protection of vulnerable populations, especially 
     women and children, who are affected by a humanitarian 
     emergency. The strategy shall include--
       (1) measures to address the specific protection needs of 
     women and children;
       (2) training for personnel to respond to the specific needs 
     of such vulnerable populations; and
       (3) measures taken to comply with section 301.
       (b) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the 
     appropriate congressional committees a report setting forth 
     the strategy described in subsection (a).

     SEC. 102. DESIGNATION OF COORDINATOR.

       (a) In General.--Not later than 60 days after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall designate an 
     individual within the Department or the Agency as the 
     coordinator to be responsible for the oversight and 
     coordination of efforts by the Department and the Agency to 
     provide protection for vulnerable populations, especially 
     women and children, affected by a humanitarian emergency.
       (b) Consultation Requirement.--The Secretary shall consult 
     with the Administrator of the United States Agency for 
     International Development in making a designation under 
     subsection (a).
       (c) Notification.--Not later than 5 days after designating 
     an official as a coordinator under subsection (a), the 
     Secretary shall inform the appropriate congressional 
     committees of such designation.

                 TITLE II--PREVENTION AND PREPAREDNESS

     SEC. 201. REPORTING AND MONITORING SYSTEMS.

       (a) Duties of Coordinator.--The coordinator shall--
       (1) develop and maintain a database of historical 
     information about occurrences of sexual exploitation and 
     abuse, and other exploitation, of children during a 
     humanitarian emergency;
       (2) establish a reporting and monitoring system for United 
     States diplomatic missions to collect and submit to the 
     coordinator information that indicates that vulnerable 
     populations, especially women and children, are being 
     targeted for or are at substantial risk of violence or 
     exploitation in humanitarian emergencies;
       (3) assist United States diplomatic missions in developing 
     responses to situations where there is a substantial risk of 
     sexual exploitation and abuse or exploitation of children 
     that may occur during a humanitarian emergency; and
       (4) develop mechanisms for the receipt and distribution of 
     reports to and from the public and relevant nongovernmental 
     and international organizations of evidence of sexual 
     exploitation and abuse and exploitation of children during a 
     humanitarian emergency.
       (b) Consultation.--In carrying out duties under paragraphs 
     (1) and (2) of subsection (a), the Coordinator shall consult 
     with inter-governmental organizations and nongovernmental 
     organizations.

     SEC. 202. PROTECTION TRAINING AND EXPERTISE.

       (a) Fellowship Program.--The Administrator of the United 
     States Agency for International Development is authorized to 
     establish a fellowship program at the Agency to increase the 
     expertise of the personnel of the Agency in developing 
     programs and policies to carry out activities related to the 
     protection of vulnerable populations, especially women and 
     children, affected by a humanitarian emergency.
       (b) Term of Fellowship.--An individual may participate in a 
     fellowship under this section for a term of not more than 3 
     years.
       (c) Number of Fellows.--The Administrator is authorized to 
     employ up to 10 fellows at any one time under this program.
       (d) Qualification.--An individual is qualified to 
     participate in a fellowship under this section if such 
     individual has the specific expertise required--
       (1) to develop and implement policies and programs related 
     to the protection of vulnerable populations, especially women 
     and children; and
       (2) to promote the exchange of knowledge and experience 
     between the Agency and entities that assist the Agency in 
     carrying out assistance programs.

   TITLE III--PROTECTION OF REFUGEES AND INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS

     SEC. 301. CODES OF CONDUCT.

       None of the funds made available by the Department or 
     Agency to provide assistance under section 491 of the Foreign 
     Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2292) or overseas 
     assistance under section 2 of the Migration and Refugee 
     Assistance Act of 1962 (22 U.S.C. 2601) may be provided to a 
     primary grantee or contractor for the purpose of providing 
     assistance to refugees or internally displaced persons unless 
     such grantee or contractor has adopted a code of conduct that 
     is consistent with the 6 core principles recommended by the 
     Inter-Agency Standing Committee. To the extent practicable, a 
     grantee or contractor that has adopted such a code of conduct 
     shall ensure that subgrantees and subcontractors of such 
     grantee or contractor have adopted, or agree to act in 
     accordance with, such a code of conduct.

     SEC. 302. HEALTH SERVICES FOR REFUGEES AND DISPLACED PERSONS.

       (a) Provision of Health Services to Vulnerable Populations 
     Affected by Humanitarian Emergencies.--The coordinator shall 
     seek to ensure that organizations funded by the Department 
     and the Agency for the purpose of responding to a 
     humanitarian emergency coordinate and implement activities 
     needed to respond to the health needs of vulnerable 
     populations, especially women and children, as soon as 
     practicable and not later than 30 days after the onset of a 
     humanitarian emergency.
       (b) Activities Defined.--The activities referred to in 
     subsection (a) include activities to--
       (1) prevent and manage the consequences of sexual violence;
       (2) reduce transmission of HIV;
       (3) provide obstetric care; and
       (4) develop a plan to integrate women's health services 
     into the primary health care services provided during a 
     humanitarian emergency.

     SEC. 303. ECONOMIC SELF-SUFFICIENCY OF VULNERABLE POPULATIONS 
                   AFFECTED BY A HUMANITARIAN EMERGENCY.

       (a) Amendments to Microenterprise Act of 2000.--Section 102 
     of the Microenterprise for Self-Reliance Act of 2000 (22 
     U.S.C. 2151f note) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (4)--
       (A) by redesignating subparagraphs (B), (C), and (D) and 
     subparagraphs (C), (D), and (E), respectively; and
       (B) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the following:
       ``(B) Women displaced by armed conflict are particularly at 
     risk, lacking access to traditional livelihoods and means for 
     generating income.''; and
       (2) in paragraph (13)--
       (A) by redesignating subparagraph (B) as subparagraph (C); 
     and
       (B) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the following:
       ``(B) Particular efforts should be made to expand the 
     availability of microcredit programs to internally displaced 
     persons, who historically have not had access to such 
     programs.''.
       (b) Amendment to the Foreign Assistance Act.--Section 
     256(b)(3) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 
     2212(b)(3)) is amended by inserting after ``clients'' the 
     following: ``, including women microentrepeneurs,''.

     SEC. 304. INTERNATIONAL MILITARY EDUCATION AND TRAINING.

       Section 541 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 
     U.S.C. 2347) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``or (iv)'' and inserting ``(iv)''; and
       (2) by striking ``rights.'' and inserting ``rights, or (v) 
     improve the protection of civilians, especially women and 
     children, including those who are refugees or displaced 
     persons.''.

     SEC. 305. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING ACTIONS OF UNITED 
                   NATIONS PEACEKEEPERS.

       It is the sense of Congress that--
       (1) the Secretary-General of the United Nations should 
     strengthen the existing ability of the United Nations 
     Department of Peacekeeping Operations to protect civilians, 
     especially women and children, from sexual exploitation and 
     abuse by personnel in peace operation missions by--
       (A) directing the Department of Peacekeeping Operations to 
     identify nongovernmental organizations and local community 
     officials to receive and communicate to senior level mission 
     officials credible reports from civilians of sexual 
     exploitation and abuse;
       (B) ensuring that there is a mechanism in place for all 
     credible allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse to be 
     brought to the attention of senior level mission officials in 
     an expedited fashion;
       (C) developing missions based rapid response teams to 
     investigate allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse;
       (D) improving informational programs for United Nations 
     personnel on their responsibility not to engage in acts of 
     sexual exploitation and abuse and the sanctions for such 
     actions;
       (E) identifying troop contributing countries that refuse to 
     investigate allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse by 
     nationals serving in peacekeeping missions;
       (F) permanently excluding individuals found to have engaged 
     in sexual abuse or exploitation, as well as troop contingent 
     commanders and civilian managerial personnel complicit in 
     such behavior, from participating in future United Nations 
     peacekeeping missions; and
       (G) demanding that troop contributing countries--

[[Page S2262]]

       (i) thoroughly investigate cases in which their nationals 
     have been alleged to have engaged in sexual abuse or 
     exploitation which on United Nations peacekeeping missions; 
     and
       (ii) punish those found guilty of such misconduct;
       (2) troop contributing states should ensure that their 
     soldiers are properly trained on United Nations guidelines 
     regarding proper conduct towards civilians, in particular 
     those guidelines that address gender-based violence, before 
     participating in United Nations peace operation missions;
       (3) the United Nations should suspend payment of 
     peacekeeping funds to countries when there is credible 
     evidence of sexual exploitation and abuse by troops of such 
     countries that are participating in peacekeeping operations, 
     and the governments of such countries are not investigating 
     or punishing such conduct; and
       (4) the Secretary should consider a suspension of United 
     States military assistance to countries that do not--
       (A) investigate allegations of sexual exploitation and 
     abuse by troops participating in United Nations peacekeeping 
     operations; or
       (B) hold perpetrators of such abuse and exploitation 
     accountable.

     TITLE IV--PROTECTION OF VULNERABLE POPULATIONS AFFECTED BY A 
                         HUMANITARIAN EMERGENCY

     SEC. 401. ACTIONS TO SUPPORT PROTECTION.

       (a) Programs of the International Bank for Reconstruction 
     and Development.--The United States Executive Director of the 
     International Bank for Reconstruction and Development should 
     take steps to ensure that disarmament, demobilization, and 
     reintegration programs developed and funded by the 
     International Bank for Reconstruction and Development provide 
     benefits to former combatants that are comparable to the 
     benefits provided by such programs to other individuals.
       (b) Report Regarding Programs to Assist Civilian Police.--
     Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this 
     Act, the Secretary shall submit a report to the appropriate 
     congressional committees on all current programs being 
     conducted by the Department or the Agency to assist foreign 
     countries with the enforcement of the laws of such countries 
     that are designed to protect women and children and improve 
     accountability for sexual exploitation and abuse.

     SEC. 402. PROTECTION ASSISTANCE.

       Chapter 1 of part I of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 
     (22 U.S.C. 2151 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the 
     following new section:

     ``SEC. 135. ASSISTANCE FOR THE PROTECTION OF VULNERABLE 
                   POPULATIONS DURING HUMANITARIAN EMERGENCIES.

       ``(a) Authority.--Notwithstanding any other provision of 
     law, and subject to the limitations of subsection (b), the 
     President is authorized to provide assistance for programs, 
     projects, and activities to promote the security of, provide 
     equal access to basic services for, and safeguard the legal 
     and human rights of civilians, especially women and children, 
     who are affected by a humanitarian emergency. Such assistance 
     shall include programs--
       ``(1) to build the capacity of nongovernmental 
     organizations to address the special protection needs of 
     vulnerable populations, especially women and children, 
     affected by a humanitarian emergency;
       ``(2) to support local and international nongovernmental 
     initiatives to prevent, detect, and report exploitation of 
     children and sexual exploitation and abuse, including through 
     the provision of training humanitarian protection monitors 
     for refugees and internally displaced persons;
       ``(3) to conduct protection and security assessments for 
     refugees and internally displaced persons in camps or in 
     communities for the purpose of improving the design and 
     security of camps for refugees and internally displaced 
     persons, with special emphasis on the security of women and 
     children;
       ``(4) to provide, when practicable, education during a 
     humanitarian emergency, including structured activities that 
     create safe spaces for children, in particular girls;
       ``(5) to reintegrate and rehabilitate former combatants and 
     survivors of a humanitarian emergency, including through 
     education, psychosocial assistance and trauma counseling, 
     family and community reinsertion, medical assistance, and 
     strengthening community systems to support sustained 
     reintegration;
       ``(6) to establish registries and clearinghouses to trace 
     relatives and begin family reunification, with a specific 
     focus on helping children find their families;
       ``(7) to provide interim care and placement for separated 
     children and orphans, including monitoring and followup 
     services;
       ``(8) to provide legal services for survivors of sexual 
     exploitation, abuse, or torture, including the collection of 
     evidence for war crimes tribunals and advocacy for legal 
     reform; and
       ``(9) to provide to local law enforcement personnel working 
     in areas affected by a humanitarian emergency training in 
     human rights law, particularly as it relates to the 
     protection of women and children.
       ``(b) Availability of Assistance.--Amounts made available 
     to carry out this part and chapter 4 of part II may be made 
     available to carry out this section.''.

  Mr. LUGAR. Mr. President, I rise to comment on International Women's 
Day and to join Senator Biden in introducing the Protection of 
Vulnerable Populations During Humanitarian Emergencies Act of 2005.
  Today is International Women's Day, a day on which we celebrate the 
progress of women and rededicate ourselves to overcoming the inequities 
facing women around the globe. In many places in the world, 
discrimination continues to deny women and girls full political and 
economic equality. The lives and health of women and girls continue to 
be endangered by violence that is directed at them simply because they 
are female. In recognition of these issues, I co-sponsored a Resolution 
with Senators Biden and Clinton commemorating International Women's Day 
and reaffirming the Senate's commitment to improving the status of 
women worldwide.
  In addition, I am co-sponsoring with Senator Biden the Protection of 
Vulnerable Populations During Humanitarian Emergencies Act of 2005, 
which the Committee on Foreign Relations supported as an amendment to 
our Foreign Affairs Authorization Act for fiscal years 2006 and 2007. 
During humanitarian emergencies, women and children become more 
vulnerable to a range of abuses including sexual exploitation, 
trafficking and gender-based violence. Our bill seeks to ensure that 
U.S. foreign assistance programs are a force for protecting women, 
children, and other vulnerable populations in the wake of military 
conflict and natural disasters.
  The recent tsunami tragedy in the Indian Ocean region has highlighted 
this important issue. Tens of thousands of children have lost family 
members and friends and are coping with unspeakable trauma. Nearly 
35,000 children have been orphaned, and many more have been separated 
from their families. These children face the imminent threats of 
hunger, disease, and diarrhea. Beyond these dangers, children are 
vulnerable to being trafficked for sexual exploitation, forced labor, 
or conscription. Without their families, the children orphaned by the 
tsunami lack protection from predators who would profit from their 
tragedy.
  During many of the humanitarian crises that we have witnessed over 
the last decade, including Rwanda, Bosnia, and Sudan, we have learned 
that women and children are uniquely vulnerable to sexual violence and 
exploitation. Over the course of the past year, the world has heard 
accounts of rape at the camps in Darfur in Western Sudan. Our bill aims 
to improve the ability of the United States to protect women and 
children, like those in the tsunami-affected region and in Darfur, from 
the additional dangers they face during a humanitarian emergency. Our 
bill calls for a coordinator for protection issues and a strategy to 
improve our ability to protect and respond to the needs of women and 
children in such crises. Our bill authorizes funding for the specific 
health care needs of women during an emergency, the establishment of 
registries and clearinghouses to trace relatives and help children find 
their families, and legal services for survivors of sexual exploitation 
and abuse. In addition, the bill requires that any organization 
receiving U.S. funds to assist in a humanitarian emergency have in 
place a code of conduct forbidding its employees from sexually abusing 
the victims of the crisis. Finally, our bill urges the United Nations 
to strengthen its policies concerning sexual abuse and exploitation by 
UN personnel involved in UN peacekeeping operations. I am hopeful that 
Senators will join me in backing this legislation.
                                 ______