,,iii #aafth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 ,,res4 #bib ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,july #cj1 #bjai ,mr4 ,cardin 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,young1 ,mr4 ,durbin1 ,mr4 ,lankford1 ,mr4 ,van ,hollen1 ,mr4 ,markey1 ,mr4 ,coons1 ,mr4 ,kaine1 and ,mr4 ,merkley7 submitted the following resolution2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,foreign ,relations ,,resolution ,calling on the ,government of ,cameroon and armed separatist groups to respect the human rights of all ,cameroonian citizens1 to end all violence1 and to pursue an inclusive dialogue to resolve the conflict in the ,northwest and ,southwest regions4 ,whereas ,paul ,biya has held office as ,cameroon's ,president since #aihb1 and won reelection to a seventh term in ,october #bjah2 ,whereas ,cameroon receives ,united ,states foreign aid and participates in the ,department of ,state-led ,trans-,sahara ,counter-,terrorism ,partnership 7,,tsctp7 and ,united ,states-supported efforts to counter ,boko ,haram2 ,whereas the ,government of ,cameroon has increasingly cracked down on political expression1 including by imprisoning opposition leaders and supporters1 banning opposition and civil society conferences1 reinforcing troop deployments to deter and disrupt protests1 and restricting access to ,facebook and other social media platforms2 ,whereas the ,government of ,cameroon has repeatedly restricted freedoms of expression and the media nationwide by shutting down the internet1 harassing and detaining journalists1 refusing licenses to independent media1 and intensifying political attacks against the independent press2 ,whereas ,boko ,haram and an ,islamic ,state-affiliated splinter group have destabilized northern ,cameroon since #bjad1 marked recently by a ,june #bjai attack on security forces in ,far ,north ,cameroon that killed dozens of soldiers and civilians2 ,whereas the ,boko ,haram insurgency in ,cameroon's ,far ,north region has created an estimated #bfc1jjj internally displaced persons 7,i,d,ps71 causing an escalating humanitarian crisis in difficult to access areas2 ,whereas tensions between predominantly ,christian farmers and predominantly ,muslim ,fulani herders have contributed to religious and communal tensions throughout ,west and ,central ,africa in recent years1 including in the ,northwest region of ,cameroon2 ,whereas members of the ,government of ,cameroon's ,rapid ,intervention ,battalion 7,,bir71 which receives ,united ,states counterterrorism training and support1 have been accused of torture and extrajudicial killings and may be in contravention of congressionally mandated 8,leahy human rights vetting0 requirements2 ,whereas the #bjah ,department of ,state ,human ,rights ,report documented torture and abuse by ,cameroonian security forces1 8prolonged arbitrary detentions including of suspected ,anglophone separatists by security forces10 and violations of freedoms of expression and assembly2 ,whereas1 following ,cameroon's ,october #g1 #bjah1 elections1 the ,african ,union ,election ,observation ,mission stated that 8the current legal framework needs to be strengthened in order to safeguard the democratic principles of separation of powers1 fairness1 and independence and impartiality10 which the ,department of ,state echoed1 emphasizing that electoral irregularities 8created an impression that the election was not credible or genuinely free and fair02 ,whereas ,anglophone ,cameroonians have long felt marginalized by official actions and policies of the ,government of ,cameroon2 ,whereas1 while the ,government of ,france has condemned attacks by armed separatists1 it has a meaningful role to play in pushing the ,government of ,cameroon to lift restrictions on freedoms of expression and the media1 end arbitrary detention1 and engage in inclusive dialogue with ,anglophone leaders2 ,whereas1 beginning in late #bjaf1 protests organized by lawyers1 teachers1 and students were violently repressed by the ,government of ,cameroon1 leading to numerous deaths and imprisonments1 including of journalists and lawyers2 ,whereas1 in ,january #bjag1 the ,government of ,cameroon ordered the suspension of internet services in the northwest and southwest regions of ,cameroon1 the suspension lasting for #ic days and having a major1 debilitating effect on the economy1 educational institutions1 freedom of expression1 and social communication of the region's residents2 ,whereas the conflict escalated in late ,september and early ,october #bjag1 when ,cameroonian security forces brutally cracked down on unarmed civilians peacefully demonstrating1 resulting in at least #bj people dying and leaving over #ajj injured2 ,whereas1 in #bjag1 armed separatist groups launched a campaign to pressure school officials in the ,anglophone region to go on strike as part of a boycott against the ,government of ,cameroon1 and began burning school buildings and threatening education officials with violence if they did not comply2 ,whereas human rights monitors have documented armed groups killing traditional leaders and targeting civilians who are perceived to be supporting or working with the ,government of ,cameroon1 and armed militants have killed ,cameroonian security force personnel2 ,whereas numerous credible reports from human rights monitors1 including the ,united ,nations ,high ,commissioner for ,human ,rights1 have documented the excessive use of force by ,government of ,cameroon security forces against ,cameroonians living in the ,anglophone regions1 including the burning of villages1 the use of live ammunition against protestors1 arbitrary arrest and detention1 torture1 and sexual abuse2 ,whereas the ,department of ,state has expressed serious concern over the ,government of ,cameroon's use of force to restrict free expression and the use of violence against individuals protesting the government's policies in the ,anglophone regions2 ,whereas both the ,government of ,cameroon security forces and armed groups have been documented targeting and brutally killing civilians in the ,anglophone regions1 including women and children2 ,whereas in ,february #bjai1 the ,department of ,state announced it would withhold some security assistance to ,cameroon1 citing credible allegations that the ,cameroonian military carried out human rights violations2 ,whereas ,united ,states citizen ,charles ,wesco was senselessly killed near the town of ,bamenda1 ,cameroon1 on ,october #cj1 #bjah1 after being caught in what the ,department of ,state has characterized as 8cross fire02 ,whereas the ,united ,nations ,office for the ,coordination of ,humanitarian ,affairs stated in ,march #bjai that at least #ecj1jjj were internally displaced in areas affected by the ,anglophone conflict2 ,whereas the ,united ,nations ,office for the ,coordination of ,humanitarian ,affairs has estimated that #bih1ijj1jjj is required to provide humanitarian assistance throughout ,cameroon1 and only #ba percent of the appeal has been funded as of ,july #bjai2 ,whereas the ,office of the ,united ,nations ,high ,commissioner for ,refugees reported that it had registered roughly #cf1jjj ,cameroonian refugees from the ,anglophone regions in ,nigeria as of ,april #bjai2 ,whereas some ,cameroonian diaspora organizations in the ,united ,states and ,cameroonian-based civil society organizations are working to address the needs of ,cameroonian internally displaced persons on the northwest and southwest regions of the country and refugees in ,nigeria2 ,whereas #dg ,anglophone activists were forcibly returned from ,nigerian custody to ,cameroonian authorities in ,january #bjah1 despite many having reportedly submitted asylum claims in ,nigeria2 and ,whereas #aj of the #dg individuals forcibly returned from ,nigeria now face charges before a military court that would be punishable by the death penalty1 while the other #cg reportedly remain in detention without charge3 ,now1 therefore1 be it ,that the ,senate-- 7#a7 urges all parties to the ,anglophone conflict in ,cameroon1 including political opposition groups1 to-- 7,a7 agree to an immediate ceasefire2 7,b7 guarantee unfettered humanitarian assistance2 7,c7 exercise restraint and ensure that protests remain peaceful2 and 7,d7 engage in inclusive dialogue with civil society to get to a political solution that respects the rights and freedoms of the people of ,cameroon2 7#b7 strongly condemns the abuses committed by ,boko ,haram1 state security forces1 and armed groups in the ,anglophone regions1 including extrajudicial killings and detentions1 the use of force against nonviolent civilians and protestors1 and violations of the freedoms of press1 expression1 religion1 and assembly2 7#c7 affirms that the ,united ,states ,government continues to hold the ,government of ,cameroon responsible for upholding the rights of all citizens1 regardless of their religious beliefs1 political views1 or the regions in which they reside2 7#d7 urges the ,government of ,cameroon to-- 7,a7 initiate a credible1 inclusive1 good1 and full-faith effort to work with religious1 cultural1 and community leaders in the ,anglophone region and the ,cameroonian diaspora to engage in meaningful dialogue and address grievances and seek nonviolent solutions to resolve the conflict1 including possibly involving an independent mediator in such negotiations2 7,b7 respect the fundamental rights of all ,cameroonian citizens1 including political activists1 faith leaders1 and journalists2 7,c7 ensure that any security operations are conducted in accordance with international human rights standards1 including efforts to ensure security forces only use force under appropriate circumstances2 7,d7 investigate all allegations of human rights abuses1 including religious freedom violations1 committed in the ,anglophone regions and take the necessary measures to prevent arbitrary detention1 torture1 enforced disappearances1 deaths in custody1 and inhumane prison conditions2 7,e7 promote the rule of law through more transparent accountability mechanisms2 7,f7 improve election processes and reform electoral institutions2 7,g7 promptly charge or release all those detained in the context of the ,anglophone crisis1 including all ,anglophone activists arrested in ,nigeria1 and ensure that any future detainees are treated with due process1 in accordance with ,cameroon's penal code and international human rights norms2 7,h7 ensure that detainees are treated fairly and humanely1 with proper judicial proceedings1 including a registry of those detained by the ,cameroonian security forces1 and with full access to legal resources2 7,i7 release human rights defenders1 civil society activists1 political prisoners1 journalists1 trade unionists1 teachers1 faith leaders and any other citizens who have been arbitrarily arrested and detained without trial or charge2 and 7,j7 work with ,united ,states law enforcement to thoroughly investigate and prosecute ,charles ,wesco's murder2 and 7#e7 urges the armed groups in ,anglophone areas to-- 7,a7 engage with government officials to peacefully express grievances and credibly engage in nonviolent efforts to resolve the conflict2 7,b7 immediately stop committing human rights abuses1 including killings of civilians1 torture1 kidnapping1 and extortion2 7,c7 end the school boycott and immediately cease attacks on schools1 teachers1 and education officials1 and allow for the safe return of all students to class2 and 7,d7 immediately release all civilians illegally detained or kidnapped4