The foundations of liberty and justice lie in the recognition that every person has dignity and rights. Strengthening these principles in nations seeking civil reform is essential. I am privileged to serve on the House Democracy Assistance Commission, which seeks to strengthen emerging democratic institutions by assisting their legislatures. In late May, I joined other members of the commission to work with key officials and parliamentarians throughout the Middle East and Africa. Pursuing additional diplomatic opportunities, we engaged with leaders such as Egypt’s President Hosni Mubarak, Lebanon’s Prime Minister Fouad Siniora, and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, as well as Liberia’s President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, the first democratically elected woman president in Africa.
While in Liberia, I was introduced to several young men who had been forced to fight in Liberia’s civil war as children. The use of child soldiers is one of the most egregious human rights violations of our times. Children belong on playgrounds not battlegrounds. In October, I introduced the Child Soldier Prevention Act of 2007 (H.R. 3028) that urges the U.S. Government to take action against foreign governments and paramilitaries that coerce children into combat. This bill later became part of the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2007 (H.R. 3887), which recently passed the House.
Religious minorities around the world are often persecuted for their beliefs. The status of religious minorities in Iraq is of particular concern. Lincoln is home to an estimated 500 Yezidis, an Iraqi religious minority group. Although Iraq’s constitution guarantees religious freedom, many religious minorities remain targets of sectarian violence. I have called for congressional hearings to highlight and review the plight of Iraq’s religious minorities, which includes Christians and several other faith traditions. We must ensure that Iraq is sufficiently prepared to protect such communities from persecution.
Lincoln is also home to more than 3,700 Vietnamese Americans, many of them political refugees. The community’s leaders have provided valuable insights into the human rights situation in Vietnam.
Last year Congress approved Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) with Vietnam, which many hoped would improve human rights practices in Vietnam. While improved trade relations are important to America’s economy, potential benefits from enhanced bilateral trade should not supplant legitimate matters of principle involving human rights, the rule of law, and religious freedom. The Vietnamese government has since engaged in an accelerated crackdown on peaceful human rights activists, resulting in more political prisoners.
To address this issue, I have introduced legislation to establish a Congressional – Executive Commission on Vietnam. The commission would collaborate with the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom to provide an in-depth analysis on human rights in Vietnam.