H. CON. RES. 24 - LIBYA'S CHAIRMANSHIP OF THE UN COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS

Introduced into the House of Representatives on 29th January 2003 by Mr. Burr (R-NC)

This resolution expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that given Libya's record on human rights it makes a mockery of the premier conference on human rights.

108th Congress
1st Session

H. Con. Res. 24

Expressing the sense of the Congress with respect to the election of Libya to the chairmanship of the 59th session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights in Geneva, Switzerland.

Whereas the annual meeting of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights (`Commission') in Geneva, Switzerland, is considered the world's premier forum for discussing human rights issues, condemning human rights abuses, and promoting improved human rights;

Whereas the Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya (`Libya') continues to be subjected to the dictatorship of Colonel Mu'ammar Al-Qadhafi and fails to permit its people the basic right of having a representative government;

Whereas according to international human rights organizations, the Government of Libya continues to commit widespread and well-documented human rights abuses in Libya;

Whereas according to the Department of State, the human rights record of the Government of Libya remains poor and the Government continues to commit numerous serious abuses;

Whereas Libya refuses to observe the principles of freedom of belief, expression, and association by repealing or amending laws and decrees that restrict those freedoms in direct refutation of the principles of the Commission and the United Nations Charter;

Whereas the Government of Libya continues to repress political and tribal groups and minorities;

Whereas the Government of Libya has repressed expressions of protest or criticism, used judicial power to suppress domestic opposition, arbitrarily arrested and detained persons for years incommunicado and without charge in deplorable conditions;

Whereas the Government of Libya, despite international condemnation, practices torture and has been accused of slavery and trafficking in persons;

Whereas the Government of Libya has fomented political instability in neighboring nations and other nations of sub-Saharan Africa resulting in loss of life, displacement, and increased poverty;

Whereas the Government of Libya has an extensive history of supporting terrorism and until 1999 was subject to United Nations Security Council sanctions for refusing to surrender two Libyan suspects in the December 21, 1988, bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, which killed 270 people, including 189 Americans;

Whereas the United Nations Security Council sanctions are currently suspended and will be eliminated only when Libya meets the requirements set forth in Security Council Resolutions 731, 748, 883, and 1192 demanding that Libya provide appropriate compensation to the families of the victims, accept responsibility for the actions of Libyan officials in the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103, provide a full accounting of its involvement in such bombing, and cease all support for terrorism; and

Whereas the Government of Libya refuses to fully comply with the requirements of the United Nations Security Council under existing resolutions: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That the Congress--

(1) strongly condemns the election of the Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya (`Libya') to the chairmanship of the 59th session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights on the basis that this action seriously undermines the credibility of the Commission and, thereby, international efforts to advance human rights; and
(2) urges the United States Government to take the lead in criticizing Libya's chairmanship and restricting criteria for Commission membership to countries with a solid and proven track record as defenders of human rights.

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