[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 540 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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119th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 540

 Recognizing Human Rights Day on December 10, 2025, and commemorating 
 the 77th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and 
                the Celebration of ``Human Rights Day''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           December 10, 2025

    Mr. Coons (for himself and Mr. Tillis) submitted the following 
    resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Recognizing Human Rights Day on December 10, 2025, and commemorating 
 the 77th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and 
                the Celebration of ``Human Rights Day''.

Whereas the Senate passed S. Res. 731 during the 115th Congress, which 
        designated December 10, 2018, as ``Human Rights Day'';
Whereas December 10, 2025, marks the 77th anniversary of the adoption of the 
        Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which was adopted by the United 
        Nations General Assembly on December 10, 1948;
Whereas the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is a landmark document that 
        represents the first comprehensive agreement among countries regarding 
        the inalienable rights and freedoms of all human beings;
Whereas the state of global human rights and civil liberties has declined during 
        the past 2 decades, with Freedom House notably tracking 19 consecutive 
        years of decline in rights and freedoms around the world;
Whereas Freedom House reports that political rights and civil liberties 
        diminished in 2024 in 60 countries and improved in only 34 countries;
Whereas the Human Rights Funders Network reported that major cuts to foreign aid 
        programs promoting human rights is projected to decline by up to 
        $1,900,000,000 annually by 2026;
Whereas conflict and suffering continues in Sudan, Yemen, the Central African 
        Republic, Ukraine, the Middle East, Haiti, and other countries and 
        territories;
Whereas the Department of State estimates that 1,000,000 individuals are 
        unjustly behind bars as political prisoners for exercising human rights 
        and fundamental freedoms because of their race, religion, or ethnicity, 
        or due to their private relationships;
Whereas authoritarian regimes continue to imprison innocent civilians;
Whereas religious minorities, religious freedom advocates, and missionaries are 
        unjustly targeted, detained, and repressed for exercising their freedom 
        to believe or not to believe;
Whereas, in many countries, political opposition figures and civil society 
        members continue to be unjustly detained for their role in demanding 
        free and fair elections and leading peaceful democratic protests in 
        opposition to illiberal regimes;
Whereas anti-corruption prosecutors and pro-democracy activists are arbitrarily 
        imprisoned on baseless charges for their advocacy of greater judicial 
        independence and transparency in countries where judicial systems are 
        weaponized against human rights advocates;
Whereas authoritarian governments and non-state actors around the world enforce 
        systems of impunity and discrimination to systematically dismantle 
        women's and girls' access to their civil liberties and imprison female 
        human rights defenders;
Whereas journalists face political imprisonment for fighting to report the 
        truth, advocating for greater protections for the freedom of the press, 
        and holding governments accountable to their citizens;
Whereas awareness of human rights--

    (1) is essential to the realization of fundamental freedoms;

    (2) promotes equality among all people;

    (3) contributes to preventing conflict and human rights violations;

    (4) leads to communities that are more stable, more secure, and safer; 
and

    (5) enhances participation in, and resilience of, fellow democracies;

Whereas Congress has a proud and consistent bipartisan history of promoting 
        internationally recognized human rights; and
Whereas December 10 of each year is celebrated globally as ``Human Rights Day'': 
        Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) designates December 10, 2025, as ``Human Rights Day'' 
        and recognizes its global significance;
            (2) recognizes the 77th anniversary of the Universal 
        Declaration of Human Rights;
            (3) reaffirms the Universal Declaration of Human Rights;
            (4) supports the work of civil society leaders and human 
        rights defenders globally;
            (5) condemns the use of political imprisonment as a tool of 
        repression to restrict civil liberties and human rights;
            (6) calls upon governments around the world to immediately 
        and unconditionally release political prisoners who are being 
        unjustly detained for advocating for human rights and civil 
        society; and
            (7) encourages the people of the United States--
                    (A) to observe ``Human Rights Day''; and
                    (B) to continue their commitment to upholding 
                freedom, democracy, and human rights around the world.
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