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A resolution supporting respect for human rights and encouraging inclusive governance in Ethiopia.

USA115th CongressSRES-168| Senate 
| Updated: 9/19/2017
Benjamin L. Cardin

Benjamin L. Cardin

Democratic Senator

Maryland

Cosponsors (32)
Dean Heller (Republican)Tammy Duckworth (Democratic)Dianne Feinstein (Democratic)Patrick J. Leahy (Democratic)Thomas Tillis (Republican)Richard J. Durbin (Democratic)Edward J. Markey (Democratic)Elizabeth Warren (Democratic)Christopher A. Coons (Democratic)Mark R. Warner (Democratic)Amy Klobuchar (Democratic)Lindsey Graham (Republican)Robert P. Casey (Democratic)John Thune (Republican)Chris Van Hollen (Democratic)Tim Scott (Republican)Debbie Stabenow (Democratic)Bill Nelson (Democratic)Michael F. Bennet (Democratic)Patty Murray (Democratic)Sherrod Brown (Democratic)Al Franken (Democratic)Maria Cantwell (Democratic)Tammy Baldwin (Democratic)John Cornyn (Republican)Cory A. Booker (Democratic)Robert Menendez (Democratic)Jeff Merkley (Democratic)Marco Rubio (Republican)Gary C. Peters (Democratic)Cory Gardner (Republican)Ron Wyden (Democratic)

Foreign Relations Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Condemns: (1) killings of peaceful protesters and excessive use of force by Ethiopian security forces; (2) the detention of journalists, students, activists, and political leaders who exercise their constitutional rights to freedom of assembly and expression through peaceful protests; and (3) abuse of the Anti-Terrorism Proclamation to stifle political and civil dissent and journalistic freedoms. Urges protesters in Ethiopia to refrain from violence and to reject violence in demonstrations. Calls on the government of Ethiopia to: address broad and persistent concerns expressed across large swatches of the citizenry; end the practice of excessive force by security forces, enforce professional discipline, and hold accountable security forces responsible for such abuses; grant the United Nations (U.N.) High Commissioner for Human Rights and U.N. Special Rapporteurs access to conduct a comprehensive examination of the state of human rights in Ethiopia and work with such entities to improve human rights conditions; conduct an investigation into the killings, detentions, and instances of excessive use of force that took place in response to protests in the Oromia and Amhara regions, hold security forces accused of such actions accountable through public proceedings, and publicly release written findings from such investigation; release from incarceration all dissidents, members of the political opposition, activists, and journalists who have been jailed for exercising constitutional rights; respect the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and guarantee freedom of the press and mass media; engage in open consultations relative to its development strategy, especially those strategies that could result in people's displacement from land; and cease proclamations that are used to harass individuals or organizations engaging in peaceful political dissent or that prohibit funding for civil society organizations working for respect for constitutional rights, the rule of law, and protection of human rights. Calls on the Department of State to: (1) share with Congress the recently concluded interagency review of U.S. security assistance and a description of current objectives and criteria that advance critical regional security objectives while mitigating the threat of assistance being misused; (2) engage with the Ethiopian government in strengthening the bilateral Working Group on Democracy, Governance, and Human Rights and provide support for implementation of Ethiopia's National Human Rights Action Plan; and (3) improve oversight and accountability of U.S. assistance to Ethiopia and ensure that such assistance reinforces long-term goals for improved governance. Calls on: (1) the U.S. Agency for International Development to lead efforts to develop a comprehensive strategy to support improved democracy and governance in Ethiopia; and (2) the President to apply appropriate sanctions on foreign persons or entities responsible for extrajudicial killings, torture, or other gross violations of internationally recognized human rights committed against any nationals in Ethiopia. Supports the peaceful efforts of the Ethiopian people to exercise their constitutional rights.

Bill Text Versions

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Timeline
May 17, 2017
Introduced in Senate
May 17, 2017
Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. (text of measure as introduced: CR S3019-3020)
Sep 19, 2017
Committee on Foreign Relations. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Sep 19, 2017
Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Corker with an amendment in the nature of a substitute and with an amended preamble. Without written report.
Sep 19, 2017
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 226.
Apr 10, 2018

Latest Companion Bill Action

HRES 115-128
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  • May 17, 2017
    Introduced in Senate


  • May 17, 2017
    Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. (text of measure as introduced: CR S3019-3020)


  • September 19, 2017
    Committee on Foreign Relations. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.


  • September 19, 2017
    Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Corker with an amendment in the nature of a substitute and with an amended preamble. Without written report.


  • September 19, 2017
    Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 226.


  • April 10, 2018

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HRES 115-128
    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

International Affairs

Related Bills

  • HRES 115-128: Supporting respect for human rights and encouraging inclusive governance in Ethiopia.
AfricaCongressional oversightDetention of personsDiplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroadEconomic developmentEthiopiaForeign aid and international reliefGovernment studies and investigationsHuman rightsMilitary assistance, sales, and agreementsMilitary personnel and dependentsNews media and reportingPolitical parties and affiliationProtest and dissentRule of law and government transparencySanctionsSovereignty, recognition, national governance and statusUnited Nations

A resolution supporting respect for human rights and encouraging inclusive governance in Ethiopia.

USA115th CongressSRES-168| Senate 
| Updated: 9/19/2017
Condemns: (1) killings of peaceful protesters and excessive use of force by Ethiopian security forces; (2) the detention of journalists, students, activists, and political leaders who exercise their constitutional rights to freedom of assembly and expression through peaceful protests; and (3) abuse of the Anti-Terrorism Proclamation to stifle political and civil dissent and journalistic freedoms. Urges protesters in Ethiopia to refrain from violence and to reject violence in demonstrations. Calls on the government of Ethiopia to: address broad and persistent concerns expressed across large swatches of the citizenry; end the practice of excessive force by security forces, enforce professional discipline, and hold accountable security forces responsible for such abuses; grant the United Nations (U.N.) High Commissioner for Human Rights and U.N. Special Rapporteurs access to conduct a comprehensive examination of the state of human rights in Ethiopia and work with such entities to improve human rights conditions; conduct an investigation into the killings, detentions, and instances of excessive use of force that took place in response to protests in the Oromia and Amhara regions, hold security forces accused of such actions accountable through public proceedings, and publicly release written findings from such investigation; release from incarceration all dissidents, members of the political opposition, activists, and journalists who have been jailed for exercising constitutional rights; respect the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and guarantee freedom of the press and mass media; engage in open consultations relative to its development strategy, especially those strategies that could result in people's displacement from land; and cease proclamations that are used to harass individuals or organizations engaging in peaceful political dissent or that prohibit funding for civil society organizations working for respect for constitutional rights, the rule of law, and protection of human rights. Calls on the Department of State to: (1) share with Congress the recently concluded interagency review of U.S. security assistance and a description of current objectives and criteria that advance critical regional security objectives while mitigating the threat of assistance being misused; (2) engage with the Ethiopian government in strengthening the bilateral Working Group on Democracy, Governance, and Human Rights and provide support for implementation of Ethiopia's National Human Rights Action Plan; and (3) improve oversight and accountability of U.S. assistance to Ethiopia and ensure that such assistance reinforces long-term goals for improved governance. Calls on: (1) the U.S. Agency for International Development to lead efforts to develop a comprehensive strategy to support improved democracy and governance in Ethiopia; and (2) the President to apply appropriate sanctions on foreign persons or entities responsible for extrajudicial killings, torture, or other gross violations of internationally recognized human rights committed against any nationals in Ethiopia. Supports the peaceful efforts of the Ethiopian people to exercise their constitutional rights.

Bill Text Versions

View Text
2 versions available

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline
May 17, 2017
Introduced in Senate
May 17, 2017
Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. (text of measure as introduced: CR S3019-3020)
Sep 19, 2017
Committee on Foreign Relations. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Sep 19, 2017
Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Corker with an amendment in the nature of a substitute and with an amended preamble. Without written report.
Sep 19, 2017
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 226.
Apr 10, 2018

Latest Companion Bill Action

HRES 115-128
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  • May 17, 2017
    Introduced in Senate


  • May 17, 2017
    Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. (text of measure as introduced: CR S3019-3020)


  • September 19, 2017
    Committee on Foreign Relations. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.


  • September 19, 2017
    Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Corker with an amendment in the nature of a substitute and with an amended preamble. Without written report.


  • September 19, 2017
    Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 226.


  • April 10, 2018

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HRES 115-128
    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Benjamin L. Cardin

Benjamin L. Cardin

Democratic Senator

Maryland

Cosponsors (32)
Dean Heller (Republican)Tammy Duckworth (Democratic)Dianne Feinstein (Democratic)Patrick J. Leahy (Democratic)Thomas Tillis (Republican)Richard J. Durbin (Democratic)Edward J. Markey (Democratic)Elizabeth Warren (Democratic)Christopher A. Coons (Democratic)Mark R. Warner (Democratic)Amy Klobuchar (Democratic)Lindsey Graham (Republican)Robert P. Casey (Democratic)John Thune (Republican)Chris Van Hollen (Democratic)Tim Scott (Republican)Debbie Stabenow (Democratic)Bill Nelson (Democratic)Michael F. Bennet (Democratic)Patty Murray (Democratic)Sherrod Brown (Democratic)Al Franken (Democratic)Maria Cantwell (Democratic)Tammy Baldwin (Democratic)John Cornyn (Republican)Cory A. Booker (Democratic)Robert Menendez (Democratic)Jeff Merkley (Democratic)Marco Rubio (Republican)Gary C. Peters (Democratic)Cory Gardner (Republican)Ron Wyden (Democratic)

Foreign Relations Committee

International Affairs

Related Bills

  • HRES 115-128: Supporting respect for human rights and encouraging inclusive governance in Ethiopia.
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
AfricaCongressional oversightDetention of personsDiplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroadEconomic developmentEthiopiaForeign aid and international reliefGovernment studies and investigationsHuman rightsMilitary assistance, sales, and agreementsMilitary personnel and dependentsNews media and reportingPolitical parties and affiliationProtest and dissentRule of law and government transparencySanctionsSovereignty, recognition, national governance and statusUnited Nations