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[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 85 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

112th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 85

Strongly condemning the gross and systematic violations of human rights 
in Libya, including violent attacks on protesters demanding democratic 
                    reforms, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             March 1, 2011

 Mr. Menendez (for himself, Mr. Kirk, Mr. Lautenberg, Mr. Durbin, Mrs. 
 Gillibrand, Mr. Sanders, Mr. Whitehouse, Mr. Schumer, Mr. Casey, Mr. 
 Wyden, and Mr. Cardin) submitted the following resolution; which was 
                        considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
Strongly condemning the gross and systematic violations of human rights 
in Libya, including violent attacks on protesters demanding democratic 
                    reforms, and for other purposes.

Whereas Muammar Gadhafi and his regime have engaged in gross and systematic 
        violations of human rights, including violent attacks on protesters 
        demanding democratic reforms, that have killed thousands of people;
Whereas Muammar Gadhafi, his sons and supporters have instigated and authorized 
        violent attacks on Libyan protesters using warplanes, helicopters, 
        snipers and soldiers and continue to threaten the life and well-being of 
        any person voicing opposition to the Gadhafi regime;
Whereas the United Nations Security Council and the international community have 
        condemned the violence and use of force against civilians in Libya and 
        on February 26, 2011, the United Nations Security Council unanimously 
        agreed to refer the ongoing situation in Libya to the International 
        Criminal Court, impose an arms embargo on the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, 
        including the provision of mercenary personnel, freeze the financial 
        assets of Muammar Gadhafi and certain family members, and impose a 
        travel ban on Gadhafi, certain family members and senior advisors;
Whereas Muammar Gadhafi has ruled Libya for more than 40 years by banning and 
        brutally opposing any individual or group opposing the ideology of his 
        1969 revolution, criminalizing the peaceful exercise of expression and 
        association, refusing to permit independent journalists' and lawyers' 
        organizations, and engaging in torture and extrajudicial executions, 
        including the 1,200 detainees killed in Abu Salim Prison in June 1996;
Whereas Libya took formal responsibility for the terrorist attack that brought 
        down Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, killing 270 people, 189 
        of whom were U.S. citizens and high-ranking Libyan officials have 
        indicated that Muammar Gadhafi personally ordered the attack; and
Whereas Libya was elected to the United Nations Human Rights Council on May 13, 
        2010 for a period of 3 years, sending a demoralizing message of 
        indifference to the families of the victims of Pan Am flight 103 and 
        Libyan citizens that have endured repression, arbitrary arrest, enforced 
        disappearance or physical assault in their struggle to obtain basic 
        human and civil rights: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) applauds the courage of the Libyan people in standing 
        up against the brutal dictatorship of Muammar Gadhafi and for 
        demanding democratic reforms, transparent governance, and 
        respect for basic human and civil rights;
            (2) strongly condemns the gross and systematic violations 
        of human rights in Libya, including violent attacks on 
        protesters demanding democratic reforms;
            (3) calls on Muammar Gadhafi to desist from further 
        violence, recognize the Libyan people's demand for democratic 
        change, resign his position and permit a peaceful transition to 
        democracy governed by respect for human and civil rights and 
        the right of the people to choose their government in free and 
        fair elections;
            (4) calls on the Gadhafi regime to immediately release 
        persons that have been arbitrarily detained, to cease the 
        intimidation, harassment and detention of peaceful protestors, 
        human rights defenders and journalists, to ensure civilian 
        safety, and to guarantee access to human rights and 
        humanitarian organizations;
            (5) welcomes the unanimous vote of the United Nations 
        Security Council on resolution 1970 referring the situation in 
        Libya to the International Criminal Court, imposing an arms 
        embargo on the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, freezing the assets of 
        Gadhafi and family members, and banning international travel by 
        Gadhafi, members of his family, and senior advisors;
            (6) urges the Gadhafi regime to abide by United Nations 
        Security Council Resolution 1970 and ensure the safety of 
        foreign nationals and their assets, and to facilitate the 
        departure of those wishing to leave the country as well as the 
        safe passage of humanitarian and medical supplies, humanitarian 
        agencies and workers, into Libya in order to assist the Libyan 
        people;
            (7) urges the United Nations Security Council to take such 
        further action as may be necessary to protect civilians in 
        Libya from attack, including the possible imposition of a no-
        fly zone over Libyan territory;
            (8) welcomes the African Union's condemnation of the 
        ``disproportionate use of force in Libya'' and urges the Union 
        to take action to address the human rights crisis in Libya and 
        to ensure that member states, particularly those bordering 
        Libya, are in full compliance with the arms embargo imposed by 
        United Nations Security Council Resolution 1970 against the 
        Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, including the ban on the provision of 
        armed mercenary personnel;
            (9) welcomes the decision of the United Nations Human 
        Rights Council to recommend Libya's suspension from the Council 
        and urges the United Nations General Assembly to vote to 
        suspend Libya's rights of membership in the Council;
            (10) welcomes the attendance of Secretary of State Clinton 
        at the United Nations Human Rights Council meeting in Geneva 
        and 1) urges the Council's assumption of a country mandate for 
        Libya that employs a Special Rapporteur on the human rights 
        situation in Libya and 2) urges the U.S. Ambassador to the 
        United Nations to advocate for improving United Nations Human 
        Rights Council membership criteria at the next United Nations 
        General Assembly in New York City to exclude gross and 
        systematic violators of human rights; and
            (11) welcomes the outreach that has begun by the United 
        States Government to Libyan opposition figures and supports an 
        orderly, irreversible transition to a legitimate democratic 
        government in Libya.
                                 <all>
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