H.L.C. AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE TO H. CON. RES. 349 OFFERED BY MS. ROS-LEHTINEN Strike the preamble and insert the following: Whereas the United Nations and organizations engaged in international humanitarian relief periodically receive re ports of sexual exploitation of refugees, particularly women and children; Whereas last year a report commissioned by the United Na tions High Commissioner of Refugees and the British organization Save the Children accuses aid workers in Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea of refusing to give food and medicine to young girls unless they perform sexual favors; Whereas in response to this report the Secretary General of the United Nations denounced sexual exploitation of refugees and called for a full investigation of the humanitarian staff from the agencies involved; Whereas the charges against aid workers in West Africa are still being investigated and in recent years there have been reports implicating employees of international nongovernmental organizations, government agencies responsible for humanitarian response, and peacekeeping forces in sexual exploitation of refugees; Whereas many of these reports have involved children, some as young as 10 to 12 years of age; Whereas the insufficiency of food rations in refugee camps has been cited as a primary factor contributing to sexual exploitation; 2 H.L.C. Whereas refugees are often extremely poor and cut off from employment and other ordinary means of income, so that they can be highly susceptible to demands that they exchange sex for food to help their families survive: and Whereas the relationship between refugee workers and refugees is a custodial or caregiving relationship in which the custodian or caregiver can exercise substantial power over the life of the other party, and which carries a corresponding risk of abuse; Now, therefore, be it Strike the text after the resolving clause and insert the following: That the Congress (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 to conduct a comprehensive worldwide investigation into the extent, if any, of sexual exploitation of refugees by agents or employees of United Nations agencies, of other international nongovernmental organizations, and of governments; (3) urges the President to (A) affirm the commitment of the United States to protecting the well-being and human rights of women and children, particularly those in refugee situations; and 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 3 H.L.C. (B) instruct the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Devel opment and the Secretary of Agriculture to review the distribution of food assistance to refugee communities throughout the world to ensure that humanitarian assistance to refugees provided by the United States is respectful of the human rights of women and children and is distributed in such a way as to minimize the risk of sexual exploitation; and (4) urges the Secretary General, the President, and the executive authorities of all governmental and nongovernmental entities engaged in refugee work to adopt codes of conduct for employees, contractors, and other agents of the United Nations, of the United States Government, and of such govern mental and nongovernmental entities, respectively, who are engaged in refugee work that strictly prohibit sexual relationships between international refugee workers and those entrusted to their care, and to enforce these prohibitions vigorously. Amend the title so as to read: "Concurrent resolution calling for effective measures to end the sexual exploitation of refugees.". Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Are there any other amendments? [No response.] Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. If not, then the question occurs on the amendment in the nature of a substitute. All in favor say, aye. [Chorus of ayes.] Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. All opposed, no. [No response.] Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. The Chair will not 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 amendment. Ms. MILLENDER-MCDONALD. Madam Chair? Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Yes, Ms. Millender-McDonald? Ms. MILLENDER-MCDONALD. There are two letters: one from the interaction and one from UNHCR that was sent to me, supporting this. May I please submit those for the record? Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. And we will put that, without objection in the Ms. MILLENDER-MCDONALD. Yes. Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN [continuing]. In the record. Thank you, so much. Ms. MILLENDER-MCDONALD. Thank you. Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. And I thank all the Members for coming. Ms. Millender-McDonald, thank you for an excellent opening statement. Ms. MILLENDER-MCDONALD. Thank you. Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Thank you, very much. Ms. MILLENDER-MCDONALD. Thank you, so much. [Whereupon, at 2:10 p.m., the Subcommittee was adjourned.] |