•HCON 156 IH
Whereas the Department of State’s Country Reports on
Human Practices for 1996 states: ‘‘Serious human rights
violations continue to occur [. . .] political killings, tor-
ture, 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, sex-
ual 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, in-
cluding 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 inter-
national 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
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate
concurring),
SECTION 1. DECLARATION OF POLICY.
The Congress hereby—
•HCON 156 IH
(1) deplores the violations of international hu-
manitarian law by the Taliban coalition in Afghani-
stan and raises concern over the reported cases of
stoning, public executions, and street beatings;
(2) condemns the Taliban’s targeted discrimina-
tion against women and girls and expresses deep
concern regarding the prohibition of employment
and education for women and girls;
(3) urges the Taliban and all other parties in
Afghanistan to cease providing safe haven to sus-
pected terrorists or permitting Afghan territory to
be used for terrorist training; and
(4) takes note of the continued armed conflict
in Afghanistan, affirms the need for peace negotia-
tions and expresses hope that the Afghan parties
will agree to a cease-fire throughout the country.
SEC. 2. SENSE OF THE CONGRESS.
It is the sense of Congress that the President—
(1) should continue to monitor the human
rights situation in Afghanistan and should call for
adherence by all factions in Afghanistan to inter-
national humanitarian law;
(2) should call for an end to the systematic dis-
crimination and harassment of women and girls in
Afghanistan;
•HCON 156 IH
(3) should encourage efforts to procure a dura-
ble peace in Afghanistan and should support the
United Nations Special Mission to Afghanistan led
by Lakhdar Brahimi to assist in brokering a peace-
ful resolution to years of conflict;
(4) should call upon the Government of Paki-
stan to use its influence with the Taliban to cease
human rights violations, end provision of safe haven
to terrorists and terrorist training camps, and re-
verse discriminatory policies against women and
girls;
(5) should call upon all nations to cease provid-
ing financial assistance, arms, and other kinds of
support to the militaries or political organizations of
any factions that abuse human rights in Afghani-
stan; and
(6) should support efforts by non-Taliban orga-
nizations in Afghanistan and moderate Taliban or-
ganizations and individuals to establish a cessation
of hostilities and a transitional multiparty govern-
ment leading to freedom, respect for human rights,
and free and fair elections.
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