STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1347-00

                                 Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                   , 2000

                                 RE: H.R. No. 49
                                     




Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2000
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs, to which
was referred H.R. No. 49 entitled:

     "HOUSE RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE EFFORTS OF THE UNITED
     STATES GOVERNMENT TO FREE THE WOMEN OF AFGHANISTAN FROM THE
     OPPRESSION OF THE TALIBAN REGIME,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this resolution is to urge the United States
government to take every opportunity to condemn the Taliban's
oppression of women in international fora and to demand that the
Taliban adhere to international law.

     Testimony in support of this resolution was received from
the Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women and several
concerned individuals.

     Your Committee finds that even after international
condemnation, the Taliban have made only slight changes in their
violations of human rights practices, and official Taliban edicts
and decrees have not been lifted to restore Afghan women's rights
to work, education and health care.  Your Committee finds that it
is necessary to urge the United States government to make plain
that it does not and will not recognize any government that
systematically disenfranchises women.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to

 
 
 
                                 STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1347-00
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this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose
of H.R. No. 49, and recommends its adoption.

                                   Respectfully submitted on
                                   behalf of the members of the
                                   Committee on Judiciary &
                                   Hawaiian Affairs,



                                   ______________________________
                                   ERIC G. HAMAKAWA, Chair