3186 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD—SENATE March 8, 2001 Rape is no longer an isolated by- reduced. Widows are not allowed to Ms. Spencer prayed: product of war; it is increasingly a tool work and must beg to subsist. Lord, my future looks so uncertain. It to advance war aims. In recent years in The women of Afghanistan, who have seems as if everything dear to me has been Bosnia, Rwanda, and East Timor sol- seen their families destroyed by war, shaken or removed. He answered me, and diers and militiamen used rape on a or- are now having their economic life and said in His word, I will remove what can be ganized, systematic, and sustained their fundamental human rights shaken so that those things which ‘‘cannot basis to further their goal of ethnic stripped away, and the violations of Af- be shaken may remain’’ (Hebrews 12:27). My ghan women’s basic human rights have life has to be built upon an unshakeable cleansing. In some cases, women were foundation. He says I’m removing from you kidnaped, interned in camps and pushed an already war-torn and war- all insecure foundation to force you to rest houses, forced to do labor, and sub- weary Afghanistan to the brink of dis- on the foundation of me alone. A spiritual jected to frequent rape and sexual as- aster. house, in order to stand, must not be built on sault. The suffering of Afghan women and a flimsy foundation. Your false resting place I was pleased that the United Na- girls must not be ignored by the United is being shaken so that you will rely wholly tions, in setting up the war crime tri- States and the international commu- on me. bunals for the Balkans and Rwanda, nity. I am working on legislation with With these words, Helena Spencer recognized rape as a war crime and a Senator BOXER to address their plight spoke volumes about how great a bless- crime against humanity. and put pressure on the Taliban to re- ing Habitat for Humanity is to so Nevertheless, I was very disappointed spect basic human rights. many people in need. These words in- by the repeated failure of the inter- On International Women’s Day, the spired us this morning as we worked national community, especially in the United States, with our history of com- side by side building the houses that former Yugoslavia, to see that those mitment to women’s rights and equal- the Spencer and Williams families will who were indicted for perpetrating ity, must redouble its efforts to place call home. These words have motivated these crimes were brought to justice. It respect for women’s rights at the top of us to see through the House the Senate appeared that the major step forward the international community’s agenda Built Program to its stated end; at taken by the creation of the tribunals regarding Afghanistan. least one new Habitat home built by We must debate and ratify the Con- would be nullified by inaction. Members of the U.S. Senate in each of vention on the Elimination of All Finally, on February 22, 2001, the our home States. Forms of Discrimination Against international tribunal in The Hague I am thankful for the work of Habi- Women. We must rededicate ourselves sentenced three Bosnian Serbs to pris- tat for Humanity in this country and and our resources to international fam- on for rape during the Bosnian war. I am encouraged by the faith and hope ily planning programs. We must en- was very pleased the court took this displayed today by Ms. Helena Spencer. force tough anti-trafficking legisla- step. Clearly, there is still much work tion. We must not ignore the gross vio- f to be done. Estimates are that up to lations of the human rights of Afghan RECENT SCHOOL SHOOTINGS 20,000 women in Yugoslavia were sys- women. Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, earlier tematically raped as part of a policy of We cannot afford to remain silent. this week, the community of Santee, ethnic cleansing and genocide. Many We cannot afford to place women’s CA was struck by a horrible tragedy perpetrators still remain at large. rights on a second tier of concern of when a student opened fire on his class- Nevertheless, the court has stated U.S. foreign policy. On International mates at Santana High School. Two loud and clear that those who use rape Women’s Day, the United States and people were killed and 13 others were as an instrument of war will no longer the international community must wounded in the worst episode of school be able to escape justice. They will be take a strong stand and issue a clear violence since the mass shooting in arrested, tried, and convicted. As warning to those who attempt to rob Judge Florence Mumba of Zambia stat- women of basic rights that the world’s Littleton, CO almost 2 years ago. Al- ed, ‘‘Lawless opportunists should ex- governments will no longer ignore though students returned to school pect no mercy, no matter how low these abuses, or allow them to con- yesterday, the grief over losing two of their position in the chain of command tinue without repercussion. their classmates and the memories of may be.’’ what occurred will stay with them for- f I commend the victims who coura- ever. My thoughts and prayers are with geously came forward to confront their PRAYER AT THE HOUSE THE the victims, their families and the peo- attackers and offer testimony that SENATE BUILT PROGRAM ple of Santee, CA as they attempt to helped lead to the convictions. The Mr. BROWNBACK. Mr. President, cope with this tragedy. international community, and women this morning, Members of the U.S. Sen- In an interview on Monday night, Dr. in particular, owe them a debt of grati- ate came together to kick off the Michael Sise, the Medical Director for tude. House the Senate Built Program with Trauma at Mercy Hospital, where three On International Women’s Day, I Habitat for Humanity International. of the victims were treated, offered his urge the Administration and the inter- Today’s event partnered Members of perspective on shooting. He said, ‘‘We national community to join me in con- the Senate with HUD Secretary Mel wouldn’t be here tonight talking to tinuing the fight to end the practice of Martinez, Habitat founder Millard you if this kid, this troubled kid, rape as an instrument of war, and to Fuller, and a host of building partners hadn’t had access to a firearm. I think pursue justice for its victims. to begin work with the Spencer and we have to start asking the tough ques- Perhaps nowhere in the world today Williams families on their new homes tions about firearms, what they mean. is there a clearer test of our commit- in Capitol Heights, MD. Firearms turn shouting matches into ment of the cause of women’s rights Before the event began, Ms. Helena shooting matches, if those two kids in than Afghanistan. Spencer, mother of one of the two fam- Columbine had not had access to fire- To put it simply, I am shocked and ilies who will be moving into the arms they would be two weird kids still dismayed at the treatment of women in homes upon completion, shared with us wandering around campus, instead of Afghanistan by the Taliban. Afghan her frustrations of living in sub- dead along with a lot of dead class- women have been banned from work standard housing and her plea to God mates. So, for us in trauma we want to and school and are largely confined in to help her find a new home for her get out in the community and ask our their homes behind darkened windows. family. Her message to us was that fellow members of the community the They are required to wear full-length Habitat for Humanity was an answer to tough questions. How do we prevent veils, or burka, when in public and prayer. I want to share her prayer with this from happening again?’’ must be accompanied by a male mem- you today, because I feel it reflects The question raised by Dr. Sise is the ber of the family. In addition, access to well on the work of Habitat for Human- same question that is being asked by medical services has been dramatically ity. people in Santee, CA and all over the

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