Resolves of the Executive Council

Resolved, That the Executive Council, meeting in Denver, Colorado, February 11-16, 1999, having been briefed on recent developments in Sierra Leone and after having reviewed reports from reputed observers of human rights violations in Sierra Leone, call upon our church community to pray for peace in Sierra Leone, to commend to God's care the brave leaders of our church who have so valiantly stood with their people amidst this conflict and have offered moral and material support to relieve their suffering; and be it further

Resolved, That the Council join other church and humanitarian organizations in requesting that the Administration and Congress to give the highest priority to bringing peace and stability to Sierra Leone. Such efforts would include initiatives within the United Nations to focus the international community on restoring peace and stability to Sierra Leone; and be it further

Resolved, That the Administration be urged immediately to increase humanitarian assistance to relieve the suffering, starvation and devastation of the people of Sierra Leone; and be it further

Resolved, That the Administration be requested to urge the United Nations to restore the full complement of human rights personnel for UNOMISL (United Nations Observer Mission in Sierra Leone) so that effective monitoring of human rights can occur; and be it further

Resolved, That the Secretary of State be requested to communicate in the strongest terms possible to those Governments who assist the insurgents with military personnel and equipment to continue in oppression and killing of innocent Sierra Leoneans that such action is repugnant to this Government; and be it further

Resolved, That the Secretary of State be requested to support efforts of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to assist West African nations to provide asylum to Sierra Leoneans fleeing persecution; and be it further

Resolved, That the U.S. Government through the Office of the Attorney General be requested to extend temporary protective status to nationals of Sierra Leone temporarily residing in the United States who cannot safely return home; and be it further

Resolved, That the Secretary of State be requested to give greater emphasis to supporting an international peacekeeping effort for Sierra Leone and other West African countries and that such a force be closely monitored to ensure that the human rights of residents of those countries whom it assists are fully protected; and be it further

Resolved, That U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations be requested to express the strong concern of this Government about the increasing use of young persons as soldiers, particularly in West Africa, and that the Humanitarian Affairs Division of the United Nations be asked to take whatever steps necessary to end this practice.