,,iii #aacth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 ,,res4 #caa ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,november #ba1 #bjac,mr4 ,merkley 7for himself1 ,mrs4 ,boxer1 ,mrs4 ,feinstein1 and ,mr4 ,murphy7 submitted the following resolution2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,commerce1 ,science1 and ,transportation ,,resolution ,calling on the ,international ,olympic ,committee 7,,ioc7 to strongly oppose ,russia's discriminatory law against the freedom of expression for lesbian1 gay1 bisexual1 and transgender 7,,lgbt7 persons and to obtain written assurance that host countries of the ,olympic ,games will uphold all international human rights and civil rights obligations for all persons observing or participating in the ,games regardless of race1 sex1 sexual orientation1 or gender identity1 and for other purposes4 ,whereas the goal of the ,olympic movement is to contribute to building a peaceful and better world by educating youth through sport practiced in accordance with ,olympism and its values2 ,whereas the role of the ,international ,olympic ,committee 7,,ioc71 according to the ,olympic ,charter1 is to cooperate with the competent public or private organizations and authorities in the endeavor to place sport at the service of humanity and thereby promote peace2 ,whereas1 under the ,olympic ,charter1 any form of discrimination against a person is deemed incompatible with belonging to the ,olympic movement and the ,,ioc is to act explicitly against any form of discrimination affecting the ,olympic movement2 ,whereas1 in ,february #bjad1 the city of ,sochi in the ,krasnodar region of the ,russian ,federation will host the #bbnd ,winter ,olympic ,games2 ,whereas1 on ,june #cj1 #bjac1 ,president ,vladimir ,putin of ,russian signed into law a bill that allows the ,government of the ,russian ,federation to arrest gay or 8pro-gay0 foreigners prior to being deported from the country2 ,whereas the ,krasnodar region of ,russia1 where the city of ,sochi is located1 and #aj other regions have adopted similar laws banning 8homosexual propaganda02 ,whereas several media outlets recently reported of homophobic violence occurring in ,russia resulting in the deaths of ,russian citizens2 ,whereas authorities in ,russia have refused to register the nongovernmental organization that would set up a ,pride ,house in ,sochi1 which would work to combat homophobia in sport and promote lesbian1 gay1 bisexual1 and transgendered 7,,lgbt7 individuals' rights during the ,olympic ,games in ,russia1 as the ,pride ,house did during the #bjaj ,winter ,olympics in ,vancouver2 ,whereas the presence of a ,pride ,house would be the expression of human rights and have the mission of celebrating diversity and inclusiveness through sport and raising awareness of ,,lgbt discrimination and criminalization2 ,whereas the ,,ioc has said that they have received assurances from the highest levels of the ,government of the ,russian ,federation that ,olympic athletes and visitors will not be affected by ,russia's discriminatory law1 but the ,minister of ,sports in ,russia has suggested that athletes will not be exempt2 ,whereas the ,department of ,state has a clear and consistent policy of championing the protection of human rights of ,,lgbt individuals worldwide1 including by opposing any legislation that singles out people for discriminatory treatment due to their sexual orientation and by encouraging countries to repeal or reform laws that punish or criminalize ,,lgbt status2 ,whereas ,russia has obligated itself to respect and enforce the right to be free from discrimination and the right to freedom of assembly1 association1 and expression under the ,european ,convention of ,human ,rights1 the ,united ,nations ,international ,covenant on ,civil and ,political ,rights1 and the human dimension commitments of the ,organization for ,security and ,cooperation in ,europe2 and ,whereas the ,,ioc recently stated1 ,the ,international ,olympic ,committee is clear that sport is a human right and should be available to all regardless of race1 sex or sexual orientation4 ,the ,games themselves should be open to all1 free of discrimination1 and that applies to spectators1 officials1 media and of course athletes4 ,we oppose in the strongest terms any move that would jeopardize this principle43 ,now1 therefore1 be it ,that the ,senate-- 7#a7 calls on the ,international ,olympic ,committee 7,,ioc7 to strongly oppose ,russia's discriminatory law as inconsistent with ,russia's international obligations and with the value of the ,olympic movement2 7#b7 calls on the ,,ioc to insist1 as a condition of holding the planned ,olympic ,games in ,sochi1 that the ,government of the ,russian ,federation provide unconditional assurance that no athlete1 coach1 official1 spectator1 or anyone otherwise involved or affiliated with the ,olympic ,games will be harassed1 fined1 detained1 or otherwise have their human rights1 including their right to free expression1 violated due to their actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity or expression of support for ,,lgbt human rights2 7#c7 urges the ,,ioc to insist that venders and contractors have ,,lgbt nondiscrimination policies in place for the #bjad ,winter ,olympics in ,sochi and for all future ,olympic ,games or other ,olympic events2 7#d7 urges the ,,ioc to call on the ,russian ,federation to allow a ,pride ,house that has the mission of celebrating diversity and inclusiveness through sport and raising awareness of ,,lgbt discrimination and criminalization2 7#e7 urges the ,,ioc to amend its charter to state that discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity is not compatible with the ,olympic ,games2 and 7#f7 urges the congressionally chartered ,united ,states ,olympic ,committee to intervene and assist the ,,ioc in establishing the objectives as laid out by this resolution4