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108th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1414
To facilitate the establishment of a United Nations civilian police
corps for international peace operations to maintain the rule of law
and promote peace and stability in post-conflict situations.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 25, 2003
Mr. McGovern (for himself and Mr. Houghton) introduced the following
bill; which was referred to the Committee on International Relations
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To facilitate the establishment of a United Nations civilian police
corps for international peace operations to maintain the rule of law
and promote peace and stability in post-conflict situations.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``International Rule of Law and
Antiterrorism Act of 2003''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) It is in the national security interest of the United
States to support efforts to restore the rule of law in post-
conflict and failed countries in order to prevent such
countries from becoming safe havens for terrorist organizations
and organized crime networks that threaten the security of
United States interests, citizens, and its allies.
(2) The responsibility of a civilian police force within a
United Nations international peace operation is to help
establish and maintain the rule of law and provide for the
security necessary for post-conflict reconstruction to take
place.
(3) The restoration of the rule of law, despite its
importance, remains a significant weakness of current United
Nations international peace operations.
SEC. 3. SUPPORT FOR THE CREATION OF A PROFESSIONAL UN CIVILIAN POLICE
CORPS (UNCPC).
(a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
(1) The creation of a professional United Nations civilian
police corps (UNCPC) would--
(A) greatly reduce the current need for combat
soldiers to engage in civilian policing activities;
(B) allow combat soldiers who are deployed to be
withdrawn earlier from a post-conflict situation
without compromising security;
(C) allow the United Nations to more rapidly and
effectively take responsibility for maintaining a
secure environment that allows aid providers to move
forward with relief, development, and democracy-
building tasks;
(D) permit the United Nations to recruit civilian
police personnel with the appropriate levels of
expertise and training in police procedures and United
Nations international peace operations, as determined
by international standards to be established by the
United Nations member states through negotiations; and
(E) institute a system of accountability for
civilian police in United Nations international peace
operations, augmenting present civil disciplinary
procedures with a standard code of conduct and an
enforcement mechanism implemented in collaboration with
United Nations member states.
(2) The right of the United States to exercise its veto
within the United Nations Security Council ensures that no
action taken by the United Nations would be detrimental to the
interests of the United States.
(b) Negotiations to Establish a UN Civilian Police Corps.--The
President shall--
(1) direct the United States Permanent Representative to
the United Nations to use the voice, vote, and influence of the
United States to establish negotiations with the United Nations
and United Nations member states to establish a professional
United Nations civilian police corps (UNCPC);
(2) direct the Secretary of State to request that the
United Nations Secretariat prepare a report concerning the
establishment of a professional United Nations civilian police
corps; and
(3) direct the Secretary of State to work with the United
Nations Secretariat and other United Nations member states to
establish standards and training programs for international
civilian police.
(c) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that a
professional United Nations civilian police corps established in
accordance with subsection (b)--
(1) should be composed of the appropriate number of law
enforcement professionals recruited and employed by the United
Nations who are appropriately trained and equipped for civilian
policing functions in United Nations international peace
operations and available for rapid deployment to such
international peace operations as needed;
(2) should be able to deploy not later than 15 days after
the date on which a deployment is authorized pursuant to a
United Nations Security Council resolution;
(3) should be managed by the United Nations Civilian Police
Division, established in October 2000 and mandated to plan and
support the work of United Nations civilian police officers in
United Nations peacekeeping operations; and
(4) should be given the appropriate resources to do its job
properly, including funding, equipment, training, logistical
support, and staffing, including support personnel as well as
corrections and judicial law enforcement professionals.
SEC. 4. REPORT ON STATUS OF NEGOTIATIONS.
Not later than 6 months after the date of the enactment of this
Act, and annually thereafter, the President shall transmit to the
Committee on International Relations of the House of Representatives
and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate a report that
contains a detailed description of the progress of negotiations to
establish a professional United Nations civilian police corps in
accordance with section 3(b).
SEC. 5. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Rule of law.--The term ``rule of law'' means the
ability of a country, through institutions and other means, to
ensure the security and well being of its citizens through the
enforcement of public laws.
(2) United nations international peace operation.--The term
``United Nations international peace operation'' means a field
operation conducted by the United Nations, or under the
authority of the United Nations Security Council, for the
purpose of implementing a peace agreement, the mandate of which
may include establishing a secure post-conflict environment and
restoring the rule of law, to enable reconstruction and
development efforts to be established and carried out.
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