III

103D CONGRESS

1ST SESSION S. RES. 76

Urging the member nations of the United Nations Commission on Human

Rights to support a resolution on human rights in Cuba.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

MARCH 4 (legislative day, MARCH 3), 1993

Mr. BURNS (for Mr. MACK) (for himself, Mrs. FEINSTEIN, Mr. HELMS, Mr.

GRAHAM, Mr. MCCAIN, Mr. DOLE, Mr. LIEBERMAN, and Mr. BURNS)

submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to

RESOLUTION

Urging the member nations of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights to support a resolution on human

rights in Cuba.

Whereas the United States has an obligation to promote and

protect human rights and fundamental freedoms stated

in the Charter of the United Nations and elaborated in

the Universal Declaration of Human Rights;

Whereas the United States committed in the Cuban Democracy Act of 1992, to ‘‘continue vigorously to oppose

human rights violations in the Castro regime’’;

Whereas Resolution 61 (1992) of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights provided for the appointment

of a Special Rapporteur ‘‘to review and report on the sit-
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•SRES 76 ATS

uation of human rights in Cuba and to maintain direct

contact with the government and citizens of Cuba’’;

Whereas the Cuban government refused to permit the Special

Rapporteur to visit Cuba and formally expressed its decision not to ‘‘implement so much as a single comma’’ of

Resolution 61;

Whereas, despite the obstructionist actions of the Cuban government, the Special Rapporteur submitted a report describing the systematic abuse of human rights and concluding that the Cuban government ‘‘tends to resort to

the use of repressive means to silence any expression of

discontent or independent opinion, no matter how small’’;

Whereas the Cuban government increased repression against

leaders of several human rights groups in Cuba on United Nations Human Rights Day, December 10, 1992;

Whereas on December 18, 1992, the United Nations General

Assembly passed Resolution 47/139 which ‘‘regrets profoundly the numerous uncontested reports of violations of

basic human rights and fundamental freedoms’’ and expressed ‘‘deep concern at arbitrary arrests, beatings, imprisonment harassment, and governmentally organized

mob attacks on human rights defenders and others who

are engaged in the peaceful exercise of their rights’’; and

Whereas the United States is cosponsoring a resolution on

Cuba in the 1993 session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights which commends and endorses the

report of the Special Rapporteur, extends his mandate

for one year, and calls upon the Cuban government to

carry out the recommendations of the Special Rapporteur

to ‘‘bring the observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms in Cuba up to universally recognized stand-
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•SRES 76 ATS

ards . . . and to end all violations of human rights, including in particular the detention and imprisonment of

human rights defenders and others who are engaged in

the peaceful exercise of their rights’’: Now, therefore, be

it

1 Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that the

2 member nations of the United Nations Commission on

3 Human Rights should cosponsor and vote for the resolu4 tion reappointing the Special Rapporteur on Cuba and

5 calling on the Cuban government to abide by internation6 ally recognized standards on human rights.

7 SEC. 2. The Secretary of the Senate shall transmit

8 a copy of this resolution to the President with the request

9 that he further transmit such copy to the member nations

10 of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights.

Æ