A concurrent resolution condemning the recent violent actions of the Government of Zimbabwe against peaceful opposition party activists and members of civil society.

Bill: 110-sconres-25
Sponsor: Sen. Obama, Barack [D-IL]
Introduced: 2007-03-29 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Administration of justice
Africa (Sub-Saharan)
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Congressional tributes
Crime and Law Enforcement
Democracy
Detention of persons
Diplomats
Dissenters
Federal officials
Government Operations and Politics
Human rights
Judicial opinions
Law
Lawyers
Opposition (Political science)
Police
Political persecution
Political violence
Protection of officials
Regionalism (International organization)
Reporters and reporting
Right to travel
Rule of law
Torture
Transportation and Public Works
Zimbabwe

Summary:
action_date: 2007-03-29
text: 
 Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) the state-sponsored violence taking place in Zimbabwe represents a serious violation of fundamental human rights and the rule of law and should be condemned by all responsible governments, civic organizations, religious leaders, and international bodies; and (2) the government of Zimbabwe has not lived up to its commitments as a signatory to the Constitutive Act of the African Union and African Charter of Human and Peoples Rights. 
 
Condemns: (1) the government of Zimbabwe's violent suppression of political and human rights; (2) the harassment and intimidation of lawyers attempting to carry out their professional obligations to their clients and repeated failure by police to comply with court decisions; and (3) the harassment of foreign officials, journalists, human rights workers, and others.
 
Commends U.S. Ambassador Christopher Dell and other U.S. officials and foreign officials for their support to political detainees and victims of torture and abuse while in police custody or in medical care centers. 
 
Calls on the government of Zimbabwe to end: (1) its violent campaign against fundamental human rights, respect the courts and members of the legal profession, and restore the rule of law; and (2) illegitimate interference in travel abroad by its citizens, especially for humanitarian purposes.
 
 Calls on the leaders of the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) and the African Union (AU) to consult with all Zimbabwe stakeholders to intervene with the government of Zimbabwe while applying appropriate pressures to resolve the economic and political crisis. 

action_date: 2007-05-24
text: 

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

 
Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) the state-sponsored violence taking place in Zimbabwe represents a serious violation of fundamental human rights and the rule of law and should be condemned by all responsible governments, civic organizations, religious leaders, and international bodies; and (2) the government of Zimbabwe has not lived up to its commitments as a signatory to the Constitutive Act of the African Union and African Charter of Human and Peoples Rights. 
 
Condemns: (1) the government of Zimbabwe's violent suppression of political and human rights; (2) the harassment and intimidation of lawyers attempting to carry out their professional obligations to their clients and repeated failure by police to comply with court decisions; and (3) the harassment of foreign officials, journalists, human rights workers, and others.
 
Commends U.S. Ambassador Christopher Dell and other U.S. officials and foreign officials for their support to political detainees and victims of torture and abuse while in police custody or in medical care centers. 
 
Calls on the government of Zimbabwe to end: (1) its violent campaign against fundamental human rights, respect the courts and members of the legal profession, and restore the rule of law; and (2) illegitimate interference in travel abroad by its citizens, especially for humanitarian purposes.
 
 Calls on the leaders of the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) and the African Union (AU) to consult with all Zimbabwe stakeholders to intervene with the government of Zimbabwe while applying appropriate pressures to resolve the economic and political crisis. 

action_date: 2007-06-26
text: 

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

 
Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) the state-sponsored violence taking place in Zimbabwe represents a serious violation of fundamental human rights and the rule of law and should be condemned by all responsible governments, civic organizations, religious leaders, and international bodies; and (2) the government of Zimbabwe has not lived up to its commitments as a signatory to the Constitutive Act of the African Union and African Charter of Human and Peoples Rights. 
 
Condemns: (1) the government of Zimbabwe's violent suppression of political and human rights; (2) the harassment and intimidation of lawyers attempting to carry out their professional obligations to their clients and repeated failure by police to comply with court decisions; and (3) the harassment of foreign officials, journalists, human rights workers, and others.
 
Commends U.S. Ambassador Christopher Dell and other U.S. officials and foreign officials for their support to political detainees and victims of torture and abuse while in police custody or in medical care centers. 
 
Calls on the government of Zimbabwe to end: (1) its violent campaign against fundamental human rights, respect the courts and members of the legal profession, and restore the rule of law; and (2) illegitimate interference in travel abroad by its citizens, especially for humanitarian purposes.
 
 Calls on the leaders of the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) and the African Union (AU) to consult with all Zimbabwe stakeholders to intervene with the government of Zimbabwe while applying appropriate pressures to resolve the economic and political crisis. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-06-26
text: Held at the desk.
action_date: 2007-06-26
text: Received in the House.
action_date: 2007-06-26
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2007-06-26
text: Received in the House.
action_date: 2007-06-26
text: Resolution agreed to in Senate without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S8519-8520; text as passed Senate: CR S8519-8520)
action_date: 2007-06-26
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Resolution agreed to in Senate without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S8519-8520; text as passed Senate: CR S8519-8520)
action_date: 2007-05-24
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 176.
action_date: 2007-05-24
text: Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Biden without amendment and with a preamble. Without written report.
action_date: 2007-05-24
text: Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Biden without amendment and with a preamble. Without written report.
action_date: 2007-05-24
text: Committee on Foreign Relations. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
action_date: 2007-03-29
text: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. (text of measure as introduced: CR S4218)
action_date: 2007-03-29
text: Introduced in Senate