,,iv #aafth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,,res4 #abeg ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,december #aj1 #bjbj,mr4 ,diaz-,balart 7for himself and ,mr4 ,mc,caul7 submitted the following resolution2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,foreign ,affairs ,,resolution ,recognizing ,international ,human ,rights ,day4 ,whereas the ,united ,nations ,general ,assembly adopted the ,universal ,declaration of ,human ,rights on ,december #aj1 #aidh2 ,whereas human rights activists and organizations around the world continue to mark ,international ,human ,rights ,day as a time to call for global recognition of human rights2 ,whereas the preamble to the ,universal ,declaration of ,human ,rights states that recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom1 justice and peace in the world2 ,whereas the ,universal ,declaration of ,human ,rights lists the freedoms of expression1 religious belief1 political opinion1 independent media1 access to information1 due process1 democratic governance1 and the right to property among the inalienable rights belonging to every person2 ,whereas the ,united ,nations ,human ,rights ,council1 while founded on sound principles1 has failed to fulfill its mission of promoting human rights in the most repressed areas of the world2 ,whereas the ,council1 which has #dg members at a time1 has included some of the world's worst human rights abusers1 such as ,cuba1 the ,people's ,republic of ,china 7,,prc71 ,russia1 and ,nicaragua1 and currently the ,council includes ,cuba1 ,eritrea1 and the ,maduro regime of ,venezuela within its membership2 ,whereas the ,united ,states announced its withdrawal from the ,council on ,june #ai1 #bjah1 due to the organization's profound need for reform1 and its myopic focus on criticism of ,israel1 a democratic country that respects human rights2 ,whereas grave human rights abuses in ,cuba1 ,nicaragua1 and ,venezuela should be addressed thoroughly by the ,council1 particularly in regard to documented cases of arbitrary or extrajudicial killings1 torture1 persecution for political opinion or religious belief1 imprisonment of political opponents1 media censorship1 and suppression of the rights to speech and assembly2 ,whereas1 in ,october and ,november #bjbj1 the regime in ,cuba brutally arrested prodemocracy activists and artists1 including members of the ,san ,isidro ,movement1 some of whom engaged in a hunger strike to protest the wrongful imprisonment of those expressing opposition to repression and censorship2 ,whereas1 on ,december #b1 #bjbj1 the ,inter-,american ,commission on ,human ,rights 7,,iachr7 announced the publication of a report1 ,people ,who ,have ,been ,deprived of ,their ,liberty ,during the ,human ,rights ,crisis in ,nicaragua ,that ,began on ,april #ah1 #bjah1 detailing the arbitrary detention1 sexual violence1 and harassment that have been used in ,nicaragua in retaliation against those protesting the ,ortega regime2 ,whereas the ,,un ,international ,independent ,fact-,finding ,mission 7,,ffm7 on ,venezuela issued a report on ,september #af1 #bjbj1 regarding nearly #c1jjj cases involving human rights abuses1 with the ,,ffm's chairperson ,marta ,valias stating of the report1 ,the ,mission found reasonable grounds to believe that ,venezuelan authorities and security forces have since #bjad planned and executed serious human rights violations1 some of which--including arbitrary killings and the systematic use of torture--amount to crimes against humanity1 and further stating that1 ,far from being isolated acts1 these crimes were coordinated and committed pursuant to ,state policies1 with the knowledge or direct support of commanding officers and senior government officials2 ,whereas grave human rights abuses in the ,,prc should be addressed by the ,council1 particularly in regard to internment camps1 abusive population controls including forced and coerced birth control and sterilizations1 the eradication of the language and culture of minority populations including ,uyghurs1 persecution for political opinion or religious belief1 media censorship1 forced disappearances1 organ harvesting of the ,falun ,gong1 oppression of the people of ,tibet1 torture1 and arbitrary or extrajudicial killings2 ,whereas ,russia's grave human rights abuses should be addressed by the ,council1 particularly in regard to persecution and imprisonment of political opponents and civic activists1 crackdown on independent media1 gross violations of freedom of religion1 targeted assassinations of journalists and political opponents1 and the expulsion of human rights and democracy organizations2 ,whereas1 in #bjah1 the ,council condemned ,eritrea's human rights abuses1 documented by the ,u4,n4 ,special ,rapporteur on the situation of human rights in ,eritrea1 to include arbitrary detention1 enforced disappearances1 torture and sexual violence and forced labor in #bjah1 and other human rights groups have condemned ,eritrea's political and religious persecution1 but nonetheless1 ,eritrea was welcomed as a ,member of the ,council later that year2 ,whereas ,,un ,resolution #fj_/bea declares that members elected to the ,human ,rights ,council members shall uphold the highest standards in the promotion and protection of human rights2 ,whereas commemoration of ,international ,human ,rights ,day should include particular focus on countries with the world's worst human rights records such as ,cuba1 the ,,prc1 ,russia1 ,nicaragua1 and ,venezuela2 ,whereas the ,united ,states should continue its important work with countries1 nongovernmental organizations1 and human rights activists to promote greater respect for human rights in the most repressed areas of the world2 and ,whereas respect for human rights is essential to promotion of other fundamental goals for a flourishing civil society1 rule of law1 good governance1 economic prosperity1 and regional stability3 ,now1 therefore1 be it ,that the ,house of ,representatives-- 7#a7 recognizes the importance of promoting human rights throughout the world2 7#b7 honors the independent journalists1 human rights attorneys1 human rights and prodemocracy activists1 political prisoners1 nongovernmental organizations1 and free countries for their selfless dedication to promoting human rights2 7#c7 remembers the sacrifices of those who have languished under oppression1 suffered for demanding respect for basic human rights1 or perished as a result of their advocacy for human rights2 7#d7 celebrates the commemoration of #gb years of progress toward greater respect for human rights2 and 7#e7 acknowledges that all countries must continue to work toward universal respect for human rights4