Protection of Vulnerable Populations During Humanitarian Emergencies Act of 2005

Bill: 109-s-559
Sponsor: Sen. Biden, Joseph R., Jr. [D-DE]
Introduced: 2005-03-08 in the Senate
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: 2005-03-08
text: 
Protection of Vulnerable Populations During Humanitarian Emergencies 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 (UN) 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 vulnerable populations.
 
Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to: (1) permit providing military education and training where it would provide for the protection vulnerable populations; and (2) authorize the President to provide assistance for programs to protect vulnerable populations during humanitarian emergencies.
 
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.

action_date: 2006-05-25
text: 
Protection of Vulnerable Populations During Humanitarian Emergencies Act of 2005 -
Title I: Program and Policy Coordination 
- (Sec. 101) Directs the Secretary of State to develop a comprehensive strategy for the protection of vulnerable populations, especially women and children, who are affected by a humanitarian emergency.
 
(Sec. 102) Directs the Secretary to designate an individual within the Department of State or the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) as the Coordinator for such efforts.
 

Title II: Prevention and Preparedness 
- (Sec. 201) Directs the Coordinator to develop related reporting and monitoring systems.
 
(Sec. 202) 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. 
 

Title III: Protection of Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons 
- (Sec. 301) Prohibits certain Department or USAID funds for refugees or internally displaced persons from being 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.
 
(Sec. 302) Directs the Coordinator to seek to provide health services to vulnerable populations, including: (1) responding to the consequences of sexual violence; (2) providing testing and treatment for HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases; (3) providing essential obstetric and prenatal care; and (4) developing a plan to integrate essential women's health services into the primary health care services provided during a humanitarian emergency.
 
(Sec. 303) Amends the Microenterprise for Self-Reliance Act of 2000 and the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to seek to extend microcredit program availability to vulnerable populations, including women and displaced persons.
 
(Sec. 304) Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to permit the President to furnish military education and training to military and related civilian personnel of foreign countries if it would improve the protection of civilians, especially women and children, including refugees or displaced persons.
 
(Sec. 305) Expresses the sense of Congress that the United Nations (U.N.) should strengthen the ability of its Department of Peacekeeping Operations to protect civilians, especially women and children, from sexual exploitation by peacekeeping personnel.
 

Title IV: Protection of Vulnerable Populations Affected by a Humanitarian Emergency - 
(Sec. 401) States that the U.S. Executive Director of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (World Bank) should take steps to ensure that disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration programs provide benefits to former combatants that are comparable to the benefits provided by such programs to other individuals. 
 
Directs the Secretary to report to the appropriate congressional committees on all Department or USAID programs to assist foreign countries with the enforcement of laws to protect women and children and improve accountability for sexual exploitation and abuse. 
 
 (Sec. 402) Amends the Foreign Assistance Act authorize the President to use the authorities under such Act to provide assistance for programs to protect vulnerable populations during humanitarian emergencies.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2006-05-25
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 453.
action_date: 2006-05-25
text: Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Lugar with amendments. Without written report.
action_date: 2006-05-25
text: Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Lugar with amendments. Without written report.
action_date: 2006-05-23
text: Committee on Foreign Relations. Ordered to be reported with amendments favorably.
action_date: 2005-03-08
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. (text of measure as introduced: CR S2260-2262)
action_date: 2005-03-08
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2259-2260)
action_date: 2005-03-08
text: Introduced in Senate