Condemning sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and calling on the international community to take immediate actions to respond to the violence.

Bill: 110-hres-1227
Sponsor: Rep. Maloney, Carolyn B. [D-NY-14]
Introduced: 2008-05-22 in the House
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Africa (Sub-Saharan)
American investments
Armed Forces and National Security
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Civil-military relations
Commerce
Corporate accountability
Crime and Law Enforcement
Democracy
Democratic Republic of Congo
Diplomats
Economic assistance
Foreign Trade and International Finance
Government Operations and Politics
Government ethics
Human rights
International relief
Labor and Employment
Law
Military training
Mines and mineral resources
Mining engineering
Peace negotiations
Peacekeeping forces
Police training
Prosecution
Public Lands and Natural Resources
Rape
Rule of law
Sex crimes
United Nations
Victims of crimes
Women
Women soldiers
Women's rights

Summary:
action_date: 2008-05-22
text: 
Condemns all forms of sexual violence, including rape, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
 
Calls on the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to address the large-scale sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
 
Urges an increased U.S. and donor country effort to provide greater assistance for police and military human rights training in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. 
 
Calls on the Secretary of State to: (1) appoint a special envoy to the Democratic Republic of the Congo to sustain U.S. engagement in a peace process and stabilization programs; and (2) encourage the Congolese government to refer individuals or armed groups found guilty of rape and sexual violence consistent in magnitude to crimes against humanity to an international criminal court system.
 
Encourages: (1) the international community to ensure greater coordination in its response to sexual violence and to provide further humanitarian assistance in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo; (2) full implementation of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1325 and related law and policy on the protection of women and girls; and (3) U.S. companies in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to exert oversight concerning where their products are coming from and who is benefiting from the trade.
 
Reaffirms support for constitutional government, the rule of law, human rights, and democratic processes in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. 

action_date: 2008-09-23
text: 
Condemns all forms of sexual violence, including rape, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
 
Calls on the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to address the large-scale sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
 
Urges: (1) an increased U.S. and donor country effort to provide greater assistance for police and military human rights training in the Democratic Republic of the Congo; and (2) the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to increase its assistance to victims of sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. 
 
Urges the Secretary of State to appoint a special envoy to the Democratic Republic of the Congo to sustain U.S. engagement in a peace process and stabilization programs. 
 
Encourages: (1) the international community to ensure greater coordination in its response to sexual violence and to provide further humanitarian assistance in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo; and (2) the protection of women and girls and the promotion of their rights.
 
Reaffirms support for constitutional government, the rule of law, human rights, and democratic processes in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. 
 
Calls on the Secretary General of the United Nations and the permanent members of the U.N. Security Council to: (1) ensure that the United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) is fully funded and deployed in areas where sexual violence is most prevalent; (2) include an adequate number of female troops and police in MONUC; and (3) hold all MONUC and associated personnel who have committed acts of rape or sexual exploitation accountable for their crimes and ensure that they are permanently barred from serving in any future peacekeeping operation.
 
Encourages a transparent process for the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo's review of mining contracts.
 
Urges U.S. companies in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to exert oversight concerning where their products are coming from and who is benefiting from the trade.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-09-23
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2008-09-23
text: On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H8632-8633)
action_date: 2008-09-23
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H8632-8633)
action_date: 2008-09-23
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H. Res. 1227.
action_date: 2008-09-23
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H8632-8633)
action_date: 2008-09-23
text: Mr. Crowley moved to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended.
action_date: 2008-05-22
text: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
action_date: 2008-05-22
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-05-22
text: Introduced in House