Peace
Building | Development
| Security | Human
Rights | HIV/AIDS
| Foreign Policy
Issues Foreign
Policy Africa Human Rights
Respect for human rights is essential to
peace and prosperity everywhere in the world, but the defense
of fundamental freedoms and privileges is particularly critical
in countries with a history of exploitation or violence.
One of the world’s greatest human rights atrocities
is currently taking place in the Darfur region of Sudan. This
tragedy has already taken more than 200,000 lives and forced
an estimated 2.5 million Darfurians from their homes. In March
2004, I was the first Senator to speak about the atrocities
being committed in Darfur on the Senate floor, and soon after
I joined colleagues in introducing a resolution condemning
this violence as genocide. I have continued to press domestic
and foreign officials to take stronger action to protect the
people of Darfur, and have supported military and humanitarian
assistance for Sudan, and Darfur in particular. I am pleased
that African leaders and the international community continue
to work toward a more effective multilateral peacekeeping
force for Darfur, and I will continue to make a UN peacekeeping
mission in Sudan a priority.
On September 19, 2006, the Senate passed a resolution I introduced
that called upon the United States and the international community
to provide coordinated humanitarian assistance for the individuals
and areas most affected by nearly two decades of conflict
in northern Uganda, with particular attention to women and
children who have been victimized. I followed up this legislation
by encouraging the administration to devote adequate staff
and sufficient financial resources to combat this severe humanitarian
crisis. Beyond Uganda and Sudan, I also have serious concerns
about human rights in Zimbabwe, where President Mugabe’s
regime has become increasingly repressive.
An estimated 300,000 children are exploited each day in state-run
armies, paramilitaries and guerilla groups around the world,
most notably in Africa. To help end this tragedy, I cosponsored
the Child Soldier Prevention Act to encourage governments
to disarm, demobilize, and rehabilitate child soldiers by
restricting U.S. military assistance from states known to
be engaging in or allowing this illegal and destructive practice.
I am also cosponsoring the Child Soldiers Accountability Act,
which would give the United States government the authority
to prosecute, deport, or deny admission to an individual known
to have recruited or used child soldiers. Congress must take
steps to stop the exploitation of children for violence in
countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda,
and ensure that the perpetrators are prosecuted and the victims
rehabilitated.
Defending citizens’ rights to free press, speech, assembly,
and association is imperative because instability and violence
are much less likely when citizens are able to peacefully
express discontent and explore alternative political solutions.
Similarly, protecting people’s rights to education,
basic health care, employment, and fair, equal treatment under
the law helps eliminate the desperation and resentment that
breed insurgencies and extremism.
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