[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 8]
[Senate]
[Page 11021]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



  IMPORTANCE OF MEMBERSHIP OF THE UNITED STATES ON THE UNITED NATIONS 
                        HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION

  Mr. REID. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 50, S. Res. 88.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 88) expressing the sense of the 
     Senate on the importance of membership of the United States 
     on the United Nations Human Rights Commission.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. REID. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent the resolution and 
preamble be agreed to en bloc, the motion to reconsider be laid upon 
the table en bloc, and any statements related thereto be printed in the 
Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 88) and the preamble were agreed to en bloc.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                               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.

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