Title: A resolution requesting information on the Government of Azerbaijan's human rights practices pursuant to section 502B(c) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961.
Policy area: International Affairs

Summary:
This resolution directs the Department of State to transmit to Congress a statement on human rights practices in Azerbaijan, including the steps the United States has taken to promote human rights in the region and an assessment of whether circumstances exist that necessitate a continuation of security assistance for Azerbaijan.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 754 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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116th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 754

 Requesting information on the Government of Azerbaijan's human rights 
practices pursuant to section 502B(c) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 
                                 1961.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

             October 22 (legislative day, October 19), 2020

 Mr. Menendez (for himself, Mr. Van Hollen, Mr. Casey, Mr. Markey, Mr. 
 Durbin, Mr. Booker, and Mr. Reed) submitted the following resolution; 
        which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Requesting information on the Government of Azerbaijan's human rights 
practices pursuant to section 502B(c) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 
                                 1961.

    Resolved,

SECTION 1. REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ON THE GOVERNMENT OF AZERBAIJAN'S 
              HUMAN RIGHTS PRACTICES.

    (a) Statement Required.--Not later than 30 days after the date of 
the adoption of this resolution, the Secretary of State shall, pursuant 
to section 502B(c) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 
2304(c)), transmit to the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate 
and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives a 
statement, prepared with the assistance of the Assistant Secretary of 
State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, with respect to 
Azerbaijan.
    (b) Elements.--The statement submitted under subsection (a) shall 
include the following elements:
            (1) All the available information about observance of and 
        respect for human rights and fundamental freedom in Azerbaijan, 
        and a detailed description of practices by the Government of 
        Azerbaijan with respect thereto, including alleged violations 
        of such rights and freedoms by the Government of Azerbaijan, 
        including--
                    (A) unlawful or arbitrary killings;
                    (B) torture;
                    (C) arbitrary arrest and detention without charges 
                and trial;
                    (D) political prisoners;
                    (E) arbitrary interference with privacy;
                    (F) restrictions on freedom of expression, the 
                press, and the internet;
                    (G) restrictions on freedoms of assembly, 
                association, and movement;
                    (H) refoulement of refugees;
                    (I) restrictions on political participation;
                    (J) discrimination and violence against women, 
                minorities, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, 
                and intersex (LGBTI) persons; and
                    (K) the worst forms of child labor.
            (2) The steps the United States Government has taken to--
                    (A) promote respect for and observance of human 
                rights in Azerbaijan and discourage any practices in 
                Azerbaijan that are inimical to internationally 
                recognized human rights; and
                    (B) publicly or privately call attention to, and 
                disassociate the United States and any security 
                assistance provided for Azerbaijan from, such 
                practices.
            (3) Whether, in the opinion of the Secretary of State, 
        notwithstanding any such practices, extraordinary circumstances 
        exist that necessitate a continuation of security assistance 
        for Azerbaijan and, if so, a description of the circumstances 
        and the extent to which the assistance should be continued 
        (subject to such conditions as Congress may impose under 
        section 502B of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 
        2304)), and all the facts pursuant to which it is in the 
        national interest of the United States to provide such 
        assistance.
            (4) Other information, including--
                    (A) all available credible information concerning 
                alleged violations of internationally recognized human 
                rights by the Government of Azerbaijan, its armed 
                forces, and associated groups and persons in the 
                context of their activities in the South Caucasus 
                region, including the denial of the right to life, the 
                infliction of civilian casualties, the displacement of 
                civilian populations, and attacks on civilian 
                infrastructure and houses of worship;
                    (B) the likelihood that United States security 
                assistance, as defined in section 502B(d) of the 
                Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2304(d)) and 
                including training and equipment provided under section 
                333 of title 10, United States Code, has been and will 
                be used in the South Caucasus by the Government of 
                Azerbaijan in a manner inimical to internationally 
                recognized human rights; and
                    (C) a description of the steps the United States 
                has taken to--
                            (i) discourage any practices by the 
                        Government of Azerbaijan, its armed forces, or 
                        associated groups or persons in the South 
                        Caucasus that are inimical to internationally 
                        recognized human rights; and
                            (ii) publicly or privately call attention 
                        to, and disassociate the United States and any 
                        security assistance provided to the Government 
                        of Azerbaijan, including training and equipment 
                        provided under section 333 of title 10, United 
                        States Code, from, such practices in the South 
                        Caucasus.
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