III 

109TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 186 

Affirming the importance of a national weekend of prayer for the victims 

of genocide and crimes against humanity in Darfur, Sudan, and expressing the sense of the Senate that July 15 through 17, 2005, should 

be designated as a national weekend of prayer and reflection for the 

people of Darfur. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JULY 1, 2005 

Mr. BROWNBACK (for himself, Mr. CORZINE, Mr. COBURN, Mr. DEWINE, Mr. 

DURBIN, Mr. KERRY, and Mr. SALAZAR) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Affirming the importance of a national weekend of prayer 

for the victims of genocide and crimes against humanity 

in Darfur, Sudan, and expressing the sense of the Senate 

that July 15 through 17, 2005, should be designated 

as a national weekend of prayer and reflection for the 

people of Darfur. 

Whereas, on July 22, 2004, Congress declared that genocide 

was taking place in Darfur, Sudan; 

Whereas, on September 9, 2004, Secretary of State Colin L. 

Powell testified to the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations that ‘‘genocide has been committed in Darfur’’; 
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SRES 186 ATS

Whereas, on September 21, 2004, President George W. Bush 

stated to the United Nations General Assembly that ‘‘the 

world is witnessing terrible suffering and horrible crimes 

in the Darfur region of Sudan, crimes my government 

has concluded are genocide’’; 

Whereas Article 1 of the Convention on the Prevention and 

Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, done at Paris December 9, 1948, and entered into force January 12, 

1951, states that ‘‘[t]he Contracting Parties confirm that 

genocide, whether committed in time of peace or in time 

of war, is a crime under international law which they undertake to prevent and punish’’; 

Whereas fundamental human rights, including the right to 

freedom of thought, conscience, and religion, are protected in numerous international agreements and declarations; 

Whereas the United Nations Security Council, in Security 

Council Resolution 1591, condemned the ‘‘continued violations of the N’djamena Ceasefire Agreement of 8 April 

2004 and the Abuja Protocols of 9 November 2004 by 

all sides in Darfur and the deterioration of the security 

situation and negative impact this has had on humanitarian assistance efforts’’; 

Whereas President Bush declared on June 30, 2005, ‘‘Yet 

the violence in Darfur region is clearly genocide. The 

human cost is beyond calculation.’’; 

Whereas it is estimated that more than 2,000,000 people 

have been displaced from their homes and remain in 

camps in Darfur, Chad, and elsewhere; 

Whereas while United States government assistance and African Union monitoring has mitigated violence in some re-
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SRES 186 ATS

gions of Darfur, religious leaders, genocide survivors, and 

world leaders have expressed grave concern, over the 

atrocities still occurring there and for the thousands that 

may still be dying; and 

Whereas it is appropriate that the people of the United 

States, leaders and citizens alike, unite in prayer for the 

people of Darfur and reflect upon the situation in 

Darfur: Now, therefore, be it 

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

2 (1) that the weekend of July 15 through 17, 

3 2005, should be designated as a National Weekend 

4 of Prayer and Reflection for the people of Darfur, 

5 Sudan; 

6 (2) to encourage the people of the United 

7 States to observe that weekend by praying for an 

8 end to the genocide and crimes against humanity 

9 and for lasting peace in Darfur, Sudan; and 

10 (3) to urge all churches, synagogues, mosques, 

11 and religious institutions in the United States to 

12 consider the people of Darfur in their activities and 

13 to observe the National Weekend of Prayer and Re14 flection with appropriate activities and services. 

Æ