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H.L.C.

AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE

TO H. CON. RES. 351

OFFERED BY Ms. Ros-LEHTINEN

Strike the preamble and insert the following:

Whereas death by stoning continues to be imposed as a form of punishment in several countries, as documented by the Country Reports on Human Rights Practices of the United States Department of State;

Whereas the brutal sentence of death by stoning is applied to women who have been accused of adultery, some of whom are coerced into prostitution, or even raped;

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 United Nations Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment; Whereas women around the world continue to be disproportionately targeted for discriminatory, inhuman, and cruel punishments by governments who refuse to protect the rights of all of their citizens equally;

Whereas in some places stoning has also 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"; and

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H.L.C.

Whereas in the year 2002, there have been acquittals or dismissals of sentences to death by stoning: Now, therefore, be it

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Strike the text after the resolving clause and insert

the following:

That

(1) the United States should condemn the practice of execution by stoning, and should call upon the international community to recognize this prac

tice as a gross violation of human rights;

(2) the President should formally communicate this concurrent resolution to governments imposing this cruel punishment and urge the suspension of sentences to death by stoning; and

(3) the President should direct the Secretary of State to work with the international community to

ward the repeal of stoning laws and adherence to international human rights standards.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Are there any other amendments?

[No response.]

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. The question occurs then on the amendment. All in favor say, aye.

[Chorus of ayes.]

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. All oppose, nay.

[No response.]

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. The question occurs on the amendment. Since there were no amendments, the Chair will now entertain a motion that the bill be reported favorably to the Full Committee, as amended by the amendment in the nature of a substitute. Mr. PITTS. So moved.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Thank you, Mr. Pitts. The question occurs on the motion to report the bill, H. Con. Res. 351 favorably as amended. All in favor say, aye.

[Chorus of ayes.]

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. All opposed, no.

[No response.]

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. The motion is approved and the bill is reported favorably. Without objection, the staff is directed to make any technical and conforming amendments. And I would like to thank the best Parliamentarian that we have in the House. Thank you, Mr. Dan Freeman. He makes me look like I really know what I am doing.

And now, we are very happy to call a resolution, H. Con. Res. 349, calling for effective measures to end the sexual exploitation of refugees for purposes of markup. Without objection, the bill will be considered as read and open for amendments at any point.

[H. Con. Res. 349 follows:]

107TH CONGRESS 2D SESSION

H. CON. RES. 349

Calling for an end to the sexual exploitation of refugees.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

MARCH 13, 2002

Ms. MILLENDER-MCDONALD submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on International Relations

IV

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Calling for an end to the sexual exploitation of refugees.

Whereas the United Nations has received reports of widespread sexual exploitation of refugees in exchange for humanitarian assistance;

Whereas a report commissioned by the United Nations High Commissioner of Refugees and the British organization Save the Children accuses dozens of aid workers in Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea of refusing to give food and medicine to young girls unless they perform sexual favors;

Whereas the Secretary General of the United Nations has denounced this sexual exploitation and called for a full investigation of the humanitarian staff from the agencies involved;

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Whereas international nongovernmental organizations, government agencies responsible for humanitarian response,

and peacekeeping forces have all been implicated in various reports of sexual exploitation of refugees;

Whereas the exchange of sex for money or gifts appears to be widespread and many refugee children feel that there are no other options for securing their basic necessities; Whereas the majority of the victims of this exploitation are girls between the ages of 13 and 18 years old, many of whom are orphaned;

Whereas insufficient food rations was cited as a primary factor contributing to sexual exploitation; and

Whereas refugees are often highly illiterate and susceptible to exchanging sex for food to help their families survive: Now, therefore, be it

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Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate

2 concurring), That Congress

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(1) supports the Secretary General of the United Nations in condemning the sexual exploitation of children by humanitarian aid workers;

(2) urges the United Nations Office of Inves

tigative Oversight Services to conduct an investigation of sexual exploitation of refugees by humanitarian aid workers of both non-governmental organizations and government sponsored agencies; and

(3) urges the President to

•HCON 349 IH

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