IV

105TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. CON. RES. 185

Expressing the sense of the Congress on the occasion of the 50th anniversary

of the signing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and recommitting the United States to the principles expressed in the Universal

Declaration.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

NOVEMBER 7, 1997

Mr. LANTOS (for himself, Mr. PORTER, Mr. SMITH of New Jersey, Mr. ABERCROMBIE, Ms. BROWN of Florida, Mr. BROWN of Ohio, Mr. CARDIN, Mr.

HALL of Ohio, Mr. LEACH, Mr. MALONEY of Connecticut, Mr.

MCDERMOTT, Mr. MEEHAN, Mr. MENENDEZ, Ms. NORTON, Mr. SNYDER, and Ms. PELOSI) submitted the following concurrent resolution;

which was referred to the Committee on International Relations

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Expressing the sense of the Congress on the occasion of

the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Universal

Declaration of Human Rights and recommitting the

United States to the principles expressed in the Universal

Declaration.

Whereas on December 10, 1948, the General Assembly of the

United Nations proclaimed the Universal Declaration of

Human Rights, after it was adopted by the General Assembly without a dissenting vote;

Whereas the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was

modeled on the Bill of Rights of the United States Con-
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HCON 185 IH

stitution and it was developed with strong United States

leadership, and in particular the personal involvement of

Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt, who served as Chair of the United Nations Human Rights Commission;

Whereas the Universal Declaration of Human Rights sets

forth fundamental human rights including the right to

life, liberty, and security of person; freedom of religion;

freedom of opinion and expression; freedom of assembly;

self-government through free elections; freedom from

slavery and torture; the right to a fair trial and to equality before the law; presumption of innocence until proved

guilty; the right not to be subjected to retroactive laws;

freedom of movement within one’s state and freedom to

leave or return to it; the right of asylum; the right to a

nationality; the right to found a family; the right to privacy; the right to own property; to social security and to

work; the right to form and join trade unions; the right

to an adequate standard of living, to education, and to

rest and leisure; and the right to participation in the cultural life of the community;

Whereas the Universal Declaration of Human Rights has become the most widely accepted statement identifying

human rights and is referred to in resolutions and covenants adopted by numerous international organizations,

in multilateral and bilateral treaties, in national constitutions, and in local laws and decrees; and

Whereas the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, though

it is not a treaty or a binding international agreement,

it is ‘‘a common standard of achievement for all peoples

and all nations’’: Now, therefore, be it
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HCON 185 IH

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate

2 concurring), That the Congress—

3 (1) reaffirms the commitment of the United

4 States to the fundamental human rights enunciated

5 half a century ago in the Universal Declaration of

6 Human Rights, which are a reflection of the fun7 damental civil and human rights that are enshrined

8 in the Declaration of Independence and in the Unit9 ed States Constitution, and in particular in the Bill

10 of Rights;

11 (2) expresses the determination to work for the

12 implementation of and observance of international

13 human rights and international human rights agree14 ments; and

15 (3) urges the government leaders of all nations,

16 representatives of private international human rights

17 organizations, business and labor leaders, local gov18 ernment officials, and all Americans to use the Uni19 versal Declaration of Human Rights as an instru20 ment to promote tolerance, understanding, and

21 greater respect for human rights.

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