,,iv  #aad? ,,congress  #a/ ,session    
,h4 ,,res4 #ceb  ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se ,,(     
,,repres5tatives  ,july #h1 #bjae ,mr4  
,pitts 7= himself & ,mr4 ,mc,govern7    
submitt$ ! foll[+ resolution2 :i* 0     
ref]r$ to ! ,committee on ,=eign        
,affairs  ,,resolution  ,express+       
support = ! designation ( a ,prison]s ( 
,consci5ce ,day4  ,:]eas ?\s&s ( p ar\nd
 ! _w are prison]s ( consci5ce3 p]sons  
imprison$ = ! peaceful expression ( _!  
political1 religi\s1 or o!r             
consci5ti\sly held beliefs1 or = _!     
id5tity1 ev5 ?\gh !y h nei!r us$ nor    
advocat$ viol5ce2 ,:]eas int]national   
/&>ds protect human rights & !          
fundam5tal fre$oms ( all individuals    
worldwide2 ,:]eas ! ,preamble to !      
,univ]sal ,decl>ation ( ,human ,rights  
ref]s to ! equal rights ( m5 & wom52    
,:]eas ! ,univ]sal ,decl>ation decl>es 9
 ,article #b t ev]yone is entitl$ to all
 ! rights & fre$oms x sets =? )\t       
di/9ction ( any k9d2 & 9 ,article #c t  
ev]yone has ! "r to life1 lib]ty1 &     

security ( p]son2 & 9 ,article #i t no  
"o %all be subject$ to arbitr>y arre/1  
det5tion1 or exile2 ,:]eas ,article #ah 
( ! ,univ]sal ,decl>ation /ates t3      
,ev]yone has ! "r to fre$om ( ?\ght1    
consci5ce & religion2 ?is "r includes   
fre$om to *ange 8 religion or belief1 & 
fre$om1 ei!r alone or 9 community ) o!rs
 & 9 public or private1 to manife/ 8    
religion or belief 9 tea*+1 practice1   
wor%ip & obs]vance2 ,:]eas ,article #ai 
( ! ,univ]sal ,decl>ation /ates t3      
,ev]yone has ! "r to fre$om ( op9ion &  
expression2 ?is "r includes fre$om to   
hold op9ions )\t int]f]5ce & to seek1   
receive & imp>t in=mation & ideas ?r\gh 
any m$ia & reg>dless ( fronti]s2 ,:]eas 
,article #bj 7#a7 ( ! ,univ]sal         
,decl>ation /ates t3 ,ev]yone has ! "r  
to fre$om ( peaceful assembly &         
association2 ,:]eas prison]s ( consci5ce
 are imprison$1 (t5 tortur$ & sometimes 
execut$1 because _! gov]nm5ts view z    
unacceptable :o !y are1 :at !y believe1 
& h[ !y h *os5 to express _!            

convictions2 ,:]eas gov]nm5ts imprison  
prison]s ( consci5ce = _m reasons       
includ+ to re/rict ! fl[ ( in=mation1   
n>r[ ! space = indep5d5t civil society1 
dim9i% ! p[] ( ! p to express _! views1 
& prev5t *all5ges to _! au?ority2 ,:]eas
 prison]s ( consci5ce include arti/s1   
blogg]s1 community activi/s1 dissid5ts1 
j\rnali/s1 human rights activi/s1       
lawy]s1 labor lead]s1 tea*]s1 religi\s  
lead]s1 & memb]s ( religi\s communities2
 ,:]eas ?r\gh ! ,def5d+ ,fre$oms        
,project ( ! ,tom ,lantos ,human ,rights
 ,commission ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates ,h\se (  
,repres5tatives1 und]tak5 9             
collaboration ) ! ,unit$ ,/ates         
,commission on ,int]national ,religi\s  
,fre$om 7,,uscirf7 & ,amne/y            
,int]national_/,,usa1 ,memb]s (         
,congress advocate on behalf ( prison]s 
( consci5ce f ar\nd ! _w & %9e a light  
on !m & ! gov]nm5ts ( ! c\ntries t h    
imprison$ !m2 ,:]eas ! goals ( ! ,def5d+
 ,fre$oms ,project are1 at a m9imum1 to 
help improve ! conditions "u :i*        

prison]s ( consci5ce are held1 &        
ideally1 secure _! fre$om1 :ile enc\rag+
 c\ntries to implem5t ne$$ re=ms        
consi/5t ) int]nationally approv$ human 
rights /&>ds2 & ,:]eas a ,prison]s (    
,consci5ce ,day w\ld und]score !        
importance ( prioritiz+ ! protection = &
 fre$om ( prison]s ( consci5ce z a      
,unit$ ,/ates =eign policy goal3 ,n[1   
!re=e1 be x  ,t ! ,h\se (               
,repres5tatives-- 7#a7 calls = !        
designation ( a ,prison]s ( ,consci5ce  
,day2  7#b7 reque/s t ! ,presid5t ( !   
,unit$ ,/ates issue a proclamation      
recogniz+ ,prison]s ( ,consci5ce ,day2  
7#c7 enc\rages ,memb]s ( ,congress to   
raise individual prison] ( consci5ce    
cases 9 ,congress1 ) ! executive bran*1 
) _! con/itu5ts1 to =eign gov]nm5ts &   
multilat]al organizations1 & dur+       
delegation trips abroad2  7#d7 enc\rages
 ! ,unit$ ,/ates ,gov]nm5t to implem5t  
policies & robu/ly support programs     
promot+ human rights1 includ+ religi\s &
 political fre$om1 ! rule ( law1 & !    

protection ( individuals & organizations
 at risk2  7#e7 enc\rages ! ,unit$      
,/ates ,gov]nm5t to und]take specific   
actions direct$ at c\ntries t deta9     
prison]s ( consci5ce 9 violation (      
int]national /&>ds2 &  7#f7 urges t     
human rights advocacy on behalf (       
prison]s ( consci5ce be pursu$          
consi/5tly & publicly at e level (      
,unit$ ,/ates =eign policy & 9 all      
bilat]al & multilat]al engagem5t1 s t   
laws & policies are br\ght into con=mity
 ) int]national commitm5ts & human      
rights /&>ds4