H.Con.Res. 185 (ih) Expressing the sense of the Congress on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and recommitting the United States to the principles expressed in the Universal Declaration. %%Fil...

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        H.Con. Res.185
                                      Agreed to October 21, 1998        

                       One Hundred Fifth Congress

                                 of the

                        United States of America


                          AT THE SECOND SESSION

          Begun and held at the City of Washington on Tuesday,
the twenty-seventh day of January, one thousand nine hundred and ninety-
                                  eight


                          Concurrent Resolution

Whereas on December 10, 1948, the General Assembly of the United 
  Nations proclaimed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, after 
  it was adopted by the General Assembly without a dissenting vote;

Whereas the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was modeled on the 
  Bill of Rights of the United States Constitution and it was developed 
  with strong United States leadership, and in particular the personal 
  involvement of Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt, who served as Chair of the 
  United Nations Human Rights Commission;

Whereas the Universal Declaration of Human Rights sets forth 
  fundamental human rights including the right to life, liberty, and 
  security of person; freedom of religion; freedom of opinion and 
  expression; freedom of assembly; self-government through free 
  elections; freedom from slavery and torture; the right to a fair 
  trial and to equality before the law; presumption of innocence until 
  proved guilty; the right not to be subjected to retroactive laws; 
  freedom of movement within one's state and freedom to leave or return 
  to it; the right of asylum; the right to a nationality; the right to 
  found a family; the right against arbitrary interference with 
  privacy, family, home, or correspondence; the right to own property; 
  to social security and to work; the right to form and join trade 
  unions; the right to an adequate standard of living, to education, 
  and to rest and leisure; and the right to participation in the 
  cultural life of the community;

Whereas the Universal Declaration of Human Rights has become the most 
  widely accepted statement identifying human rights and is referred to 
  in resolutions and covenants adopted by numerous international 
  organizations, in multilateral and bilateral treaties, in national 
  constitutions, and in local laws and decrees; and

Whereas the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, though it is not a 
  treaty or a binding international agreement, it is ``a common 
  standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations'': Now, 
  therefore, be it

    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That the Congress--
        (1) reaffirms the commitment of the United States to the 
    fundamental human rights enunciated half a century ago in the 
    Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which are a reflection of 
    the fundamental civil and human rights that are enshrined in the 
    Declaration of Independence and in the United States Constitution, 
    and in particular in the Bill of Rights;
        (2) expresses the determination to work for the implementation 
    of and observance of international human rights and international 
    human rights agreements; and
        (3) urges the government leaders of all nations, 
    representatives of private international human rights 
    organizations, business and labor leaders, local government 
    officials, and all Americans to use the Universal Declaration of 
    Human Rights as an instrument to promote tolerance, understanding, 
    and greater respect for human rights.
  Attest:

                                 Clerk of the House of Representatives.

  Attest:

                                               Secretary of the Senate.

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