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105TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. CON. RES. 156

Expressing concern for the continued deterioration of human rights in Afghanistan and emphasizing the need for a peaceful political settlement

in that country.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

SEPTEMBER 23, 1997

Mrs. MALONEY of New York (for herself, Mr. ROHRABACHER, Ms. ROSLEHTINEN, Mr. MARKEY, Ms. MILLENDER-MCDONALD, Ms. VELA ́ZQUEZ,

Mrs. KELLY, Ms. ESHOO, Mrs. MINK of Hawaii, Mr. LANTOS, Ms.

DELAURO, Mr. WATTS of Oklahoma, Mr. GEJDENSON,, Mr.

BLAGOJEVICH, Mr. KENNEDY of Massachusetts, Mr. MCNULTY, Mrs.

THURMAN, Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts, Mr. OLVER, Mr. CAPPS, Mr.

UNDERWOOD, Mr. SOLOMON, Mrs. LOWEY, Mr. FARR of California, Mrs.

MORELLA, and Mr. BERMAN) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on International Relations

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Expressing concern for the continued deterioration of human

rights in Afghanistan and emphasizing the need for a

peaceful political settlement in that country.

Whereas Congress recognizes that the legacy of civil conflict

in Afghanistan during the last 17 years has had a devastating effect on the civilian population in that country,

killing 2,000,000 people and displacing more than

7,000,000, and has had a particularly negative impact on

the rights and security of women and girls;
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Whereas the Department of State’s Country Reports on

Human Practices for 1996 states: ‘‘Serious human rights

violations continue to occur [. . .] political killings, torture, rape, arbitrary detention, looting, abductions and

kidnappings for ransom were committed by armed units,

local commanders and rogue individuals.’’;

Whereas the Afghan militias are responsible for numerous

abhorrent human rights abuses, including the rape, sexual abuse, torture, abduction, and persecution of women

and girls;

Whereas drug proliferation has increased under Taliban rule;

Whereas Congress is disturbed by the upsurge of reported

human rights abuses in Taliban-controlled territory, including extreme restrictions placed on women and girls;

Whereas the Taliban have provided safe haven to suspected

terrorists and may be allowing terrorist training camps to

operate in territory under its control;

Whereas Afghanistan is a sovereign nation and must work to

solve its internal disputes; and

Whereas Afghanistan and the United States recognize international human rights conventions, such as the Universal

Declaration on Human Rights, which espouse respect for

basic human rights of all individuals without regard to

race, religion, ethnicity, or gender: Now, therefore, be it

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate

2 concurring),

3 SECTION 1. DECLARATION OF POLICY.

4 The Congress hereby—
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1 (1) deplores the violations of international hu2 manitarian law by the Taliban coalition in Afghani3 stan and raises concern over the reported cases of

4 stoning, public executions, and street beatings;

5 (2) condemns the Taliban’s targeted discrimina6 tion against women and girls and expresses deep

7 concern regarding the prohibition of employment

8 and education for women and girls;

9 (3) urges the Taliban and all other parties in

10 Afghanistan to cease providing safe haven to sus11 pected terrorists or permitting Afghan territory to

12 be used for terrorist training; and

13 (4) takes note of the continued armed conflict

14 in Afghanistan, affirms the need for peace negotia15 tions and expresses hope that the Afghan parties

16 will agree to a cease-fire throughout the country.

17 SEC. 2. SENSE OF THE CONGRESS.

18 It is the sense of Congress that the President—

19 (1) should continue to monitor the human

20 rights situation in Afghanistan and should call for

21 adherence by all factions in Afghanistan to inter22 national humanitarian law;

23 (2) should call for an end to the systematic dis24 crimination and harassment of women and girls in

25 Afghanistan;
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1 (3) should encourage efforts to procure a dura2 ble peace in Afghanistan and should support the

3 United Nations Special Mission to Afghanistan led

4 by Lakhdar Brahimi to assist in brokering a peace5 ful resolution to years of conflict;

6 (4) should call upon the Government of Paki7 stan to use its influence with the Taliban to cease

8 human rights violations, end provision of safe haven

9 to terrorists and terrorist training camps, and re10 verse discriminatory policies against women and

11 girls;

12 (5) should call upon all nations to cease provid13 ing financial assistance, arms, and other kinds of

14 support to the militaries or political organizations of

15 any factions that abuse human rights in Afghani16 stan; and

17 (6) should support efforts by non-Taliban orga18 nizations in Afghanistan and moderate Taliban or19 ganizations and individuals to establish a cessation

20 of hostilities and a transitional multiparty govern21 ment leading to freedom, respect for human rights,

22 and free and fair elections.

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