,,iii #aagth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 ,,res4 #cge ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,september #ba1 #bjba,mr4 ,menendez 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,rubio1 ,mr4 ,durbin1 ,mr4 ,cardin1 ,mr4 ,kaine1 and ,mr4 ,cassidy7 submitted the following resolution2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,foreign ,relations ,,resolution ,supporting efforts to strengthen protection1 assistance1 and solutions for ,venezuelan women and children4 ,whereas the ,venezuelan refugee and migration crisis represents the largest recorded displacement crisis in the ,western ,hemisphere1 with over #e1djj1jjj ,venezuelans displaced outside of their home country as of ,november #bjbj2 ,whereas one-third of ,venezuelans are food insecure1 with the greatest impacts on children1 pregnant women1 and the elderly1 according to the ,world ,food ,program2 ,whereas femicides in ,venezuela have increased significantly in recent years due to rises in criminal violence1 intimate partner violence1 human trafficking1 endemic corruption1 and lack of accountability for criminal offenses2 ,whereas the dire state of ,venezuela's public health system1 including extremely high maternal and infant mortality rates1 has compelled women and girls to flee the country to give birth2 ,whereas a #bjai report from the ,united ,nations ,population ,fund stated that #ie in every #a1jjj births in ,venezuela from #bjjc to #bjah were to mothers aged #ae to #ai2 ,whereas women and girls fleeing ,venezuela face grave threats of sexual violence1 exploitation1 and trafficking by armed groups operating in border regions1 such as the ,ejrcito de ,liberacin ,nacional 7,,eln72 ,whereas1 after fleeing the horrors in ,venezuela1 ,venezuelan refugees and migrants face additional challenges1 including lack of access to safe shelter1 jobs1 documentation1 healthcare1 and increased restrictions on freedom of movement2 ,whereas governments in ,latin ,america and the ,caribbean participating in the regional coordination forum1 the ,quito ,process1 issued a joint declaration in ,november #bjai committing to strengthen measures against human trafficking1 gender-based violence1 discrimination1 and xenophobia1 and to establish a regional protection protocol for ,venezuelan refugee and migrant children and adolescents2 ,whereas1 on ,february #h1 #bjba1 the ,government of ,colombia provided ,temporary ,protected ,status to eligible ,venezuelans in ,colombia--providing them temporary legal status and work authorization for a period of #aj years2 ,whereas1 on ,march #h1 #bjba1 the ,united ,states designated ,venezuela for ,temporary ,protected ,status and provided ,deferred ,enforced ,departure for eligible ,venezuelans on ,january #ai1 #bjba2 ,whereas the ,united ,states has committed to strengthen international protection of women and children through the ,united ,states ,strategy on ,women1 ,peace1 and ,security1 which aims to promote the protection of women and girls' human rights2 access to humanitarian assistance2 and safety from violence1 abuse1 and exploitation around the world1 as well as through the ,united ,states ,government ,strategy on ,advancing ,protection and ,care for ,children in ,adversity2 and ,whereas the ,united ,states has prioritized addressing the issue of gender-based violence in humanitarian contexts by establishing a ,safe from the ,start initiative1 implemented by the ,department of ,state and the ,united ,states ,agency for ,international ,development3 ,now1 therefore1 be it ,that the ,senate-- 7#a7 expresses grave concern for the massive and growing humanitarian needs of ,venezuelans1 including over #e1djj1jjj ,venezuelan refugees and migrants1 with particular concern for the impact of the displacement crisis and the ,,covid-#ai pandemic on women and children2 7#b7 recognizes the many communities across ,latin ,america and the ,caribbean that continue to generously receive and host ,venezuelan refugees and migrants while also fighting to recover from the ,,covid-#ai pandemic2 7#c7 commends the efforts of the ,government of ,colombia for granting ,temporary ,protected ,status to ,venezuelans1 and calls on other refugee-hosting countries to consider similar protections for ,venezuelans2 7#d7 appreciates the participation in the ,quito ,process of the ,governments of ,argentina1 ,brazil1 ,chile1 ,colombia1 ,costa ,rica1 the ,dominican ,republic1 ,ecuador1 ,guyana1 ,mexico1 ,panama1 ,paraguay1 ,peru1 and ,uruguay1 and encourages implementation of their commitments to strengthen national processes of documentation and registration and to bolster protections for ,venezuelan refugees and migrants subject to gender-based violence1 human trafficking1 and xenophobia2 7#e7 encourages governments hosting ,venezuelan refugees and migrants1 as well as international and nongovernmental organizations providing assistance1 to ensure that health care1 including mental health1 shelter1 food assistance1 and other basic services are increasingly accessible to women and children2 7#f7 calls on the international community1 including both humanitarian and development actors1 to focus greater attention and resources to address the violence1 abuse1 and exploitation suffered by ,venezuelan women and children1 including by disaggregating data by sex and age in needs assessments and program reporting2 7#g7 supports increasing ,united ,states diplomatic initiatives and humanitarian assistance to strengthen protections for ,venezuelan refugees and migrants and their host communities1 with an emphasis on the protection of women and children2 and 7#h7 underscores the need for ,venezuelan women to participate in efforts to restore democratic governance and address the complex humanitarian crisis in ,venezuela4