105TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. CON. RES. 156
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Whereas Congress recognizes that the legacy of civil conflict
in Afghanistan during the last 17 years has had a dev-
astating 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;
•HCON 156 EH
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 combatants are responsible for numer-
ous abhorrent human rights abuses, including the rape,
sexual abuse, torture, abduction, and persecution of
women and girls;
Whereas drug proliferation has increased in Afghanistan;
Whereas Congress is disturbed by the upsurge of reported
human rights abuses in Afghanistan, including extreme
restrictions placed on women and girls;
Whereas safe haven has been provided to suspected terrorists
and terrorist camps may be allowed to operate in Afghan-
istan;
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—
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(1) deplores the violations of international hu-
manitarian law in Afghanistan and raises concern
over the reported cases of stoning, public executions,
and street beatings;
(2) condemns the targeted discrimination
against women and girls and expresses deep concern
regarding the prohibition of employment and edu-
cation 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;
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(3) should encourage efforts to procure a dura-
ble peace in Afghanistan and should support the ef-
forts of the United Nations Special Envoy Secretary
General Lakhdar Brahimi to assist in brokering a
peaceful resolution to years of conflict;
(4) should call upon all countries with influence
to use their influence on the contending factions to
end the fighting and come to the negotiating table,
abide by internationally recognized norms of behav-
ior, cease human rights violations, end provision of
safe haven to terrorists and close terrorist training
camps, and reverse 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 in Afghanistan; and
(6) should support efforts by Aghan individuals
to establish a cessation of hostilities and a transi-
•HCON 156 EH
tional multiparty government leading to freedom, re-
spect for human rights, and free and fair elections.
Passed the House of Representatives November 9,
1997.
Attest:
Clerk.