Women and Children in Crisis and Conflict Protection Act of 2005

Bill: 109-hr-1413
Sponsor: Rep. Lowey, Nita M. [D-NY-18]
Introduced: 2005-03-17 in the House
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: AIDS (Disease)
Armed Forces and National Security
Business ethics
Child abuse
Child health
Child labor
Child sexual abuse
Children's rights
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Congress
Congress and foreign policy
Congressional reporting requirements
Crime and Law Enforcement
Crimes against women
Criminal investigation
Data banks
Department of State
Development credit institutions
Disabled
Disaster relief
Displaced persons
Economic assistance
Education
Embassies
Emergency Management
Employee training
Evidence (Law)
Executive reorganization
Families
Family services
Foreign Trade and International Finance
Government Operations and Politics
Government contractors
Government paperwork
Health
Higher education
Human immunodeficiency viruses
Human rights
Immigration
International agencies
International courts
International military forces
International relief
Kidnapping
Labor and Employment
Law
Military assistance
Military command and control
Military education
Military law
Military personnel
Military training
Nongovernmental organizations
Obstetrics
Peacekeeping forces
Police
Police training
Prostitution
Rape
Refugees
Scholarships
Science, Technology, Communications
Sex crimes
Sex-oriented businesses
Small business
Smuggling
Subcontractors
Torture
U.S. Agency for International Development
United Nations
United Nations economic assistance
Veterans' rehabilitation
Victims of crimes
Violence
War crimes
Women
Women in business
Women's health
Women's rights

Summary:
action_date: 2005-03-17
text: 
Women and Children in Crisis and Conflict Protection Act of 2005 - Directs the Secretary of State to: (1) develop a comprehensive strategy for the protection of vulnerable populations, especially women and children, who are affected by a humanitarian emergency; and (2) designate an individual within the Department of State or the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) as the coordinator for such efforts.
 
Authorizes USAID to establish a fellowship program to increase USAID expertise in carrying out protective activities of vulnerable populations, especially women and children, affected by a humanitarian emergency. 
 
Prohibits certain Department or USAID funds for refugees or internally displaced persons to be provided to a primary grantee or contractor unless the grantee or contractor has adopted a code of conduct that is consistent with the six core principles recommended by the United Nations Inter-Agency Standing Committee.
 
Directs the coordinator to seek to provide health services to vulnerable populations, including: (1) prevention of of sexual violence; (2) reduction of HIV transmission; (3) provision of obstetric care; and (4) integrating women's health services into the primary health care services provided during a humanitarian emergency. 
 
Amends the Microenterprise for Self-Reliance Act of 2000 to seek to extend microcredit program availability to internally displaced persons.
 
Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to: (1) include the protection of vulnerable populations within military education and training; and (2) authorize the President to provide assistance for programs to protect vulnerable populations during humanitarian emergencies.
 
Directs the United States Executive Director of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (World Bank) to ensure that World Bank disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration programs provide benefits to former combatants that are comparable to benefits provided to other individuals. 
 
Expresses the sense of Congress that the UN should strengthen the ability of its Department of Peacekeeping Operations to protect civilians, especially women and children, from sexual exploitation by peacekeeping personnel.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-03-17
text: Referred to the House Committee on International Relations.
action_date: 2005-03-17
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2005-03-17
text: Introduced in House