SPEAKERS CONTENTS INSERTS
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80–965PDF
2002
EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF CONGRESS THAT THE
UNITED STATES SHOULD CONDEMN THE PRACTICE OF
EXECUTION BY STONING AS A GROSS VIOLATION
OF HUMAN RIGHTS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES;
AND CALLING FOR AN END TO THE SEXUAL
EXPLOITATION OF REFUGEES
MARKUP
BEFORE THE
SUBCOMMITTEE ON
INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS AND HUMAN RIGHTS
OF THE
COMMITTEE ON
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
ONE HUNDRED SEVENTH CONGRESS
SECOND SESSION
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ON
H. Con. Res. 351 and H. Con. Res. 349
JULY 25, 2002
Serial No. 107–103
Printed for the use of the Committee on International Relations
Available via the World Wide Web: http://www.house.gov/international—relations
COMMITTEE ON INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
HENRY J. HYDE, Illinois, Chairman
BENJAMIN A. GILMAN, New York
JAMES A. LEACH, Iowa
DOUG BEREUTER, Nebraska
CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH, New Jersey
DAN BURTON, Indiana
ELTON GALLEGLY, California
ILEANA ROS-LEHTINEN, Florida
CASS BALLENGER, North Carolina
DANA ROHRABACHER, California
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EDWARD R. ROYCE, California
PETER T. KING, New York
STEVE CHABOT, Ohio
AMO HOUGHTON, New York
JOHN M. McHUGH, New York
JOHN COOKSEY, Louisiana
THOMAS G. TANCREDO, Colorado
RON PAUL, Texas
NICK SMITH, Michigan
JOSEPH R. PITTS, Pennsylvania
DARRELL E. ISSA, California
ERIC CANTOR, Virginia
JEFF FLAKE, Arizona
BRIAN D. KERNS, Indiana
JO ANN DAVIS, Virginia
MARK GREEN, Wisconsin
TOM LANTOS, California
HOWARD L. BERMAN, California
GARY L. ACKERMAN, New York
ENI F.H. FALEOMAVAEGA, American Samoa
DONALD M. PAYNE, New Jersey
ROBERT MENENDEZ, New Jersey
SHERROD BROWN, Ohio
CYNTHIA A. McKINNEY, Georgia
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EARL F. HILLIARD, Alabama
BRAD SHERMAN, California
ROBERT WEXLER, Florida
JIM DAVIS, Florida
ELIOT L. ENGEL, New York
WILLIAM D. DELAHUNT, Massachusetts
GREGORY W. MEEKS, New York
BARBARA LEE, California
JOSEPH CROWLEY, New York
JOSEPH M. HOEFFEL, Pennsylvania
EARL BLUMENAUER, Oregon
SHELLEY BERKLEY, Nevada
GRACE NAPOLITANO, California
ADAM B. SCHIFF, California
DIANE E. WATSON, California
THOMAS E. MOONEY, SR., Staff Director/General Counsel
ROBERT R. KING, Democratic Staff Director
Subcommittee on International Operations and Human Rights
ILEANA ROS-LEHTINEN, Florida, Chairwoman
CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH, New Jersey
RON PAUL, Texas
CASS BALLENGER, North Carolina
THOMAS G. TANCREDO, Colorado
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JOSEPH R. PITTS, Pennsylvania
CYNTHIA A. McKINNEY, Georgia
ROBERT MENENDEZ, New Jersey
GRACE NAPOLITANO, California
ADAM B. SCHIFF, California
YLEEM POBLETE, Subcommittee Staff Director
KHALED ELGINDY, Democratic Professional Staff Member
SANDY ACOSTA, Staff Associate
C O N T E N T S
Markup of H. Con. Res. 351, Expressing the sense of Congress that the United States should condemn the practice of execution by stoning as a gross violation of human rights, and for other purposes
Text of H. Con. Res. 351
Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute to H. Con. Res. 351 offered by the Honorable Ileana Ros-Lehtinen
Markup of H. Con. Res. 349, Calling for an end to the sexual exploitation of refugees
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Text of H. Con. Res. 349
Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute to H. Con. Res. 349 offered by the Honorable Ileana Ros-Lehtinen
LETTERS, STATEMENTS, ETC., SUBMITTED FOR THE HEARING
The Honorable Juanita Millender-McDonald, a Representative in Congress from the State of California: Prepared statement
APPENDIX
Material Submitted for the Hearing Record
CALLING FOR AN END TO THE SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF REFUGEES; AND EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF CONGRESS THAT THE UNITED STATES SHOULD CONDEMN THE PRACTICE OF EXECUTION BY STONING AS A GROSS VIOLATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
THURSDAY, JULY 25, 2002
House of Representatives,
Subcommittee on International
Operations and Human Rights,
Committee on International Relations,
Washington, DC.
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The Committee met, pursuant to call, at 1 p.m. in Room 2200, Rayburn House Office Building, Hon. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen [Chairwoman of the Subcommittee] presiding.
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. The Subcommittee will come to order. Pursuant to notice, I call up the resolution, H. Con. Res. 351, expressing the sense of Congress that the United States should condemn the practice of execution by stoning as a gross violation of human rights and for other purposes for markup. Without objection, the bill will be considered as read and open for amendment at any point.
[H. Con. Res. 351 follows:]
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Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. I'd like to make my opening statement and then I would like to ask Mr. Pitts if he has any opening remarks. We are very thankful that the sponsor of the bill is with us and, although not a Member of our Subcommittee, we will also recognize her. And we will be looking at Ms. McCollum's stoning resolution, which seeks to condemn the practice of execution by stoning as degrading and inhuman treatment and a gross violation of human rights.
I first became involved with efforts to appeal stoning laws several years ago, after viewing a graphic and disturbing video of women in Iran being subjected to this abhorrent and cruel punishment. In the video, the condemn begin to pray, asking their god for the inner strength to endure with faith and fortitude what awaits them. They are wrapped head to foot in white shroud and buried up to their waste. Then, the stoning begins. The stones are specifically chosen, so they are large enough to cause pain, but not as large as to kill the condemn immediately. They are guaranteed a slow, tortuous death. Sometimes, their children are forced to watch. Their offense is usually adultery.
As I spoke to some of the victims, it was difficult for me to comprehend that such a deplorable practice is still being used. It is unconscionable that as we approach the conclusion of the first congressional session of the 21st century, we are still faced with the gruesome reality that stoning is employed in multiple countries, despite the ratification of the Convention Against Torture and obligations under other international human rights covenants.
For this reason, the substitute, which I will offer, goes beyond the Nigerian cases cited in the original resolution, to ensure a broader presentation of this situation and, in turn, more encompassing condemnation of the practice of stoning. Further, in Subcommittee and Committee hearings and briefings on the State Department's Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, the Annual Report on International Religious Freedom, and its Trafficking in Persons Reports, we have discussed the use of stoning and other inhumane practices, such as flogging and hanging.
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We confirm that death by stoning disproportionately targets the female population under charges of adultery and prostitution and learn that it sometimes is employed against men and is used to punish other so-called crimes, which are more political in nature. The substitute covers these cases.
I ask my colleagues to support this substitute and I urge the President or Secretary of State to work with us, with Ms. McKinney and I, as we offer this toward the repeal of stoning laws and adherence to international human rights standards. And it is my pleasure to recognize my dear friend, Congresswoman Grace Napolitano, for any opening remarks.
Ms. NAPOLITANO. Thank you, Madam Chair. It is very important that we take a look at what is happening around the world publicly and vociferously object to the stoning practices, and the ability for us to be able to bring more information to light, so that we are all aware and can support resolution—this resolution, as it moves forward——
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Thank you, Ms. Napolitano.
Ms. NAPOLITANO [continuing]. In order to move this agenda forward.
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Thank you, very much. Mr. Pitts, any opening remarks?
Mr. PITTS. Just that I am pleased to join you, Madam Chairwoman, in the call for the abolition of this very cruel and inhuman punishment, as a gross violation of human rights. And I am proud to cosponsor this with you.
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Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Thank you, very much, Joe. Mr. Ballenger?
Mr. BALLENGER. I would just like to reiterate the previous speaker. Obviously, things like this should never be allowed and it is our responsibility to do what we can to protect people in situations like that.
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Thank you, very much. I have an amendment in the nature of a substitute at the desk, with without objection will be considered as read. And the substitute, worked out with our Ranking Member Ms. McKinney, is primarily technical in nature. It does have an additional whereas clause, to include statements from Amnesty International, regarding stoning; an additional whereas clause to cover the use of stoning to suppress religious freedom and political dissent; an additional whereas clause that addresses the actions by some government to commute stoning sentences; and a new resolved clause to go beyond, as I said in my statement, the Nigerian cases and covering stoning laws in other pertinent countries. The authors support and the language was worked out with Full Committee Majority and Minority Members and with the Subcommittee Ranking Member, Ms. McKinney.
[The information referred to follows:]
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Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Are there any other amendments?
[No response.]
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. The question occurs then on the amendment. All in favor say, aye.
[Chorus of ayes.]
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. All oppose, nay.
[No response.]
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. The question occurs on the amendment. Since there were no amendments, the Chair will now entertain a motion that the bill be reported favorably to the Full Committee, as amended by the amendment in the nature of a substitute.
Mr. PITTS. So moved.
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Thank you, Mr. Pitts. The question occurs on the motion to report the bill, H. Con. Res. 351 favorably as amended. All in favor say, aye.
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[Chorus of ayes.]
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. All opposed, no.
[No response.]
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. The motion is approved and the bill is reported favorably. Without objection, the staff is directed to make any technical and conforming amendments. And I would like to thank the best Parliamentarian that we have in the House. Thank you, Mr. Dan Freeman. He makes me look like I really know what I am doing.
And now, we are very happy to call a resolution, H. Con. Res. 349, calling for effective measures to end the sexual exploitation of refugees for purposes of markup. Without objection, the bill will be considered as read and open for amendments at any point.
[H. Con. Res. 349 follows:]
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Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. I know that our Members are pressed for time. We are very happy to have the sponsor of the amendment with us here today and would like to recognize her for the opening statement. Thank you, very much. We are very happy that you are here with us. We want to make you part of our Subcommittee.
Ms. MILLENDER-MCDONALD. I would love to.
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Come join us.
Ms. MILLENDER-MCDONALD. Thank you, very much.
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Thank you. You are recognized, Ms. Millender-McDonald, whose bill is before us today.
Ms. MILLENDER-MCDONALD. Thank you, so much, Madam Chair, and it is great to be with you. I have always been impressed with your position on issues, such as what we are bringing forth to this Subcommittee today. And sitting to my left is a former Chair of mine, and so I am happy to be with Mr. Pitts, as well.
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Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to comment, appear before Subcommittee, to offer this testimony on behalf of H. Con. Res. 349, this bill that I introduced in March of this year. Since that time, Madam Chair, accordingly to the recent letters I received from the Washington office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, or UNHCR, as it is commonly known, progress has been made by that organization, in taking preventive action and imposing guidelines for field staff in Africa and other regions of the world. Mr. Lubbers, the UNHCR head, issued a statement on July 12th, reiterating there is absolutely no place in the humanitarian community for those, who exploit others, and again emphasizes the need for strict adherence to a zero tolerance policy.
It is also true that the UN Office of International Oversight Services has carried out more than 250 interviews in the field on this matter, and will issue its report to the UN General Assembly later this year. One might be led to think that the allegations contained in the UNHCR Save the Children UK report of last February, on sexual abuse of child refugees, particularly young girls, were unfounded and that humanitarian workers in these refugee camps were being unfairly targeted. But, that is not the case.
All of this week, the wire services and Newsweek Magazine informed us about sexual abuse in a large refugee settlement in eastern Zimbabwe. The camp manager and the country director of the International Catholic Migration Commission were fired. The alleged abuses centered on ICMC employees denying scholarships and other services to female refugees, who refuse their demands for sex. It is suggested that there are further problems in Zimbabwe and Namibia, also located in southern Africa.
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This issue is not an isolated matter, one to be regulated to the margins of our consciousness. The matter of sexual abuse of women and children is a real threat and especially for those, who have already been dispossessed from their homelands and who face uncertain futures.
In March, as co-Chair of the Congressional Caucus on Women's Issues, I participated in the commemoration of International Women's Day and joined with my other colleagues and Lifetime T.V. in highlighting the issues of stopping violence against women worldwide. Indeed, I moderated the panel on the international fight against violence. We heard from a number of advocates on matters relating to trafficking, female genital mutilation, other crimes, and Afghan women.
We, also, focused on refugee women. On this issue, we now know that the lives of refugee women and their children are at stake. The quality of life in many refugee settings can lead to sexual violence, abuse, and harassment of children. This is what happens and appears to have occurred in the refugee camps—refugee camps located in Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Liberia, and now Zimbabwe, and specifically and possibly elsewhere. Young girls are defenseless in the face of such exploitations and, therefore, we must be their champions wherever such evil is found in the world. It is appalling that local aid workers of international and local humanitarian agencies and NGOs and even perhaps some members of peacekeeping forces have been accused of carrying out this sexual exploitation.
Madam Chair, my solution commends the Secretary General of the United Nations for his forthright stand on this matter and supports his call for a complete investigation by the UN Office of Oversight Services for this gandiculous situation. When I and several other members of the women's caucus met with Mr. Anon in New York in April, he expressed his deep appreciation for our concern and indicated that along with the global UN investigation underway, he believed that more women should help manage these camps, to avoid such exploitation.
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Part of the lack of protection of refugee children rights comes from too little money. Although the United States contributed about 22 percent of the budget of UNHCR, the funding from all donors is inadequate. Increased resources are a must, if better physical protection is to be made available for women and their children.
These refugee settlements are often large operations and are quite complex to run. Due to decreased funding, UNHCR and its NGO partners have had to cut staff and drop supervision of many services. This has led to the UN's guidelines on protecting the refugee women and children rights not being fully implemented.
Obviously, we must strive to commit more funding to UN agencies dealing with refugees, so that the camps become a less dangerous environment for women and children. My measure also calls on the President to reaffirm the commitment of the United States to protect the well being of human rights of women and girls, as well as to review, under USAID and the Department of Agriculture, the distribution of U.S. food assistance to refugee communities around the world.
We cannot allow girl children to become sexual pawns, because they do not have enough food to eat. This situation really should not be tolerated. It is distressing that many girls feel compelled to exchange sexual favors for food, because their food rations cannot last a month and their families go hungry. This lack of sufficient food is something that the American people would want to do something about. My bill requests USAID and the Department of Agriculture to review the way food assistance is provided to refugee communities.
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Madam Chair, I thought it is important to highlight these issues and to show our government takes the matter of abuse of women rights seriously whenever it is found. The President must confirm this principle on the part of the American people.
Hopefully, the final report of the UN investigation will make recommendations about the disciplining of those, who sexually exploit children. I firmly believe that this prompt action must be taken to bring those, who have brought shame upon the honorable profession of giving service to refugees dispossessed of the earth, to full account.
I appreciate your consideration in marking up this legislation in your Subcommittee and can only hope that it will move quickly out of the Full Committee for floor action. This matter cannot be swept away and will require the fullest review, if we are to combat this ultimate offense against the rights of the weakest of our global citizens, the refugees. Thank you, Madam Chair.
[The prepared statement Ms. Millender-McDonald follows:]
PREPARED STATEMENT OF THE HONORABLE JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
Madame Chair:
Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to appear before your Subcommittee and to offer this testimony on behalf of H. Con. Res. 349, the Bill I introduced in March of this year.
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Since that time, Madame Chair, according to a recent letter I received from the Washington Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, or UNHCR as it is commonly known, progress has been made by that organization in taking preventive action and imposing guidelines for field staff in Africa and in other regions of the world. Mr. Lubbers, the UNHCR Head, issued a statement on July 12th reiterating ''there is absolutely no place in the humanitarian community for those who exploit others and again emphasizes the need for strict adherence to a 'zero-tolerance' policy.'' It is also true that the UN Office of Internal Oversight Services has carried out more than 250 interviews in the field on this matter and will issue its report to the UN General Assembly later this year.
One might be led to think that the allegations contained in the UNHCR/Save The Children (UK) report of last February on sexual abuse of child refugees, particularly, young girls were unfounded and that humanitarian workers in these refugee camps were being unfairly targeted. But that is not the case.
Only this past week, the wire services and NEWSWEEK magazine informed us about sexual abuse in a large refugee settlement in eastern Zimbabwe. The camp manager and the country director of the International Catholic Migration Commission (ICMC) were fired. The alleged abuses centered on ICMC employees denying scholarships and other services to female refugees who refused their demands for sex. It is suggested that there are further problems in Zambia and Namibia, also located in southern Africa. This issue is not an isolated matter—one to be relegated to the margins of our consciousness. The matter of sexual abuse of women and children is a real threat and especially for those who have already been dispossessed from their homelands and who face uncertain futures.
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In March, as co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on Women's Issues, I participated in the commemoration of International Women's Day and joined with my other colleagues and Lifetime TV in highlighting the issue of stopping violence against women worldwide. Indeed, I moderated the panel on the International Fight against Violence. We heard from a number of advocates on matters relating to Trafficking, female genital mutilation, honor crimes and Afghani women. We also focused on refugee women.
On this issue, we now know that the lives of refugee women and their children are at stake. The poor quality of life in many refugee settings can lead to sexual violence, abuse and harassment of children.
This is what appears to have occurred in the refugee camps located in Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia and now Zimbabwe and possibly elsewhere. Young girls are defenseless in the face of such exploitation and therefore we must be their champions wherever such evil is found in the world.
It is appalling that local aid workers of international and local humanitarian agencies and NGOs, and even perhaps some members of peacekeeping forces, have been accused of carrying out this sexual exploitation.
Madame Chair, my Resolution commends the Secretary General of the United Nations for his forthright stand on this matter and supports his call for a complete investigation by the UN Office of Oversight Services of this scandalous situation. When I and several other Members of the Women's Caucus met with Mr. Annan in New York in April, he expressed his deep appreciation for our concern and indicated that, along with the global UN investigation underway, he believed that more women should help manage these camps to avoid such exploitation.
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Part of the lack of protection of refugee children's rights comes from too little money. Although the United States contributes about 22 per cent of the budget of UNHCR, the funding from all donors is inadequate. Increased resources are a must if better physical protection is to be made available for women and their children. These refugee settlements are often large operations and are quite complex to run. Due to decreased funding, UNHCR and its NGO partners have had to cut staff and drop supervision of many services. This has led to the UN's guidelines on protecting refugee women and child rights not being fully implemented. Obviously, we must strive to commit more funding to UN agencies dealing with refugees, so that the camps become a less dangerous environment for women and children.
My measure also calls on the President to re-affirm the commitment of the United States to protect the well-being and human rights of women and girls as well as to review under USAID and the Department of Agriculture, the distribution of US food assistance to refugee communities around the world.
We cannot allow girl children to be come sexual pawns because they do not have enough food to eat. This situation really should not be tolerated. It is distressing that many girls feel compelled to exchange sexual favors for food because their food rations cannot last a month and their families go hungry. This lack of sufficient food is something that the American people would want to do something about. My bill requests USAID and the Department of Agriculture to review the way food assistance is provided to refugee communities.
Madame Chair, I thought that it was important to highlight this issue and to show that our Government takes the matter of abuse of human rights seriously wherever it is found. The president must affirm this principle on the part of the American people. Hopefully, the final report of the UN investigation will make recommendations about the disciplining of those who sexually exploit children. I firmly believe that prompt action must be taken to bring those who have brought shame upon the honorable profession of giving service to refugees—the dispossessed of the earth—to full account.
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I appreciate your consideration in marking up this legislation in your Subcommittee and can only hope that it will move quickly out of the full committee for floor action. This matter cannot be swept away and will require the fullest review if we are to combat this ultimate offense against the rights of the weakest of our global citizens—the refugee.
Thank you.
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Thank you. Very well said, Ms. Millender-McDonald. I would like for the Members to put any opening statements they have without objection into the record.
And I have an amendment in the nature of a substitute at the desk with, without objection, will be considered as read. The substitute includes the technical language that we worked out with the author of the resolution, Ms. Millender-McDonald. It does have one additional resolve clause, to ensure that codes of conduct requirements apply not only to NGOs, but also to the UN and United States personnel engaged in refugee work, as Ms. Millender-McDonald pointed out in her opening statements.
[The information referred to follows:]
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Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Are there any other amendments?
[No response.]
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. If not, then the question occurs on the amendment in the nature of a substitute. All in favor say, aye.
[Chorus of ayes.]
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. All opposed, no.
[No response.]
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. The Chair will not entertain a motion that the bill be reported favorably to the Full Committee, as amended by the amendment in the nature of a substitute.
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Mr. PITTS. So moved.
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Thank you, Mr. Pitts. The question occurs on the motion to report the bill, H. Con. Res. 351, favorably as amended. All in favor say, aye.
[Chorus of ayes.]
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. All opposed, no.
[No response.]
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. The motion is approved and the bill is reported favorably. Without objection, the staff is directed to make any technical and conforming amendment.
Ms. MILLENDER-MCDONALD. Madam Chair?
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Yes, Ms. Millender-McDonald?
Ms. MILLENDER-MCDONALD. There are two letters: one from the interaction and one from UNHCR that was sent to me, supporting this. May I please submit those for the record?
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. And we will put that, without objection in the——
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Ms. MILLENDER-MCDONALD. Yes.
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN [continuing]. In the record. Thank you, so much.
Ms. MILLENDER-MCDONALD. Thank you.
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. And I thank all the Members for coming. Ms. Millender-McDonald, thank you for an excellent opening statement.
Ms. MILLENDER-MCDONALD. Thank you.
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Thank you, very much.
Ms. MILLENDER-MCDONALD. Thank you, so much.
[Whereupon, at 2:10 p.m., the Subcommittee was adjourned.]
A P P E N D I X
Material Submitted for the Hearing Record
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PREPARED STATEMENT OF THE HONORABLE BETTY MCCOLLUM, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF MINNESOTA
I would like to thank the Chairwoman, the Ranking Member, and all the members of the Subcommittee on International Operations and Human Rights for consideration of this bill, House Concurrent Resolution 351, which condemns both the sentence and practice of execution by stoning.
The digging of a pit in the earth, the burying of an individual up to their waist or shoulders, and then, the gathering of a members of a community to cast stones and rocks at the exposed torso and head of a woman or a man until death is brutal, cruel, and inhumane.
HConRes 351 is intended to send a message to the most remote corners of the globe that the sentence of stoning—particularly when used as a tool of gender persecution to control women and girls—is far beneath any minimum standard of human rights recognized by this House and by the people of the United States.
At the same time, Madame Chair, this resolution is not intended to be disrespectful to any nation, religion or culture. But, I do believe, so strongly, that the most basic rights of every man, woman and child on earth must be respected, protected and defended. It is this belief in fundamental human rights that forces me to speak out and, I know that working together, we can extinguish this brutal punishment from the face of the earth.
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Individuals who have been given this brutal sentence—almost all women—must be defended because their humanity demands a level of respect that far exceeds the torturous and cruel act of stoning.
I do not know the women most recently sentenced to death by stoning. I will likely never visit their villages in Africa, Asia or the Middle East. But I will stand with them as a sister, as a citizen of this world, and work to defend the most basic human rights we all deserve to enjoy.
Today, I am very proud of my colleagues on this committee for your willingness to highlight this issue. I am also very proud of the millions of Americans who care so passionately about defending human rights around the world.
Madame Chair, once again, I want to sincerely thank you and the members of the Subcommittee for their support and efforts on this legislation. Thank you for your efforts to defend human rights around the world.