§ 6432. — Duties of Commission.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 22USC6432]
TITLE 22--FOREIGN RELATIONS AND INTERCOURSE
CHAPTER 73--INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
SUBCHAPTER II--COMMISSION ON INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
Sec. 6432. Duties of Commission
(a) In general
The Commission shall have as its primary responsibility--
(1) the annual and ongoing review of the facts and circumstances
of violations of religious freedom presented in the Country Reports
on Human Rights Practices, the Annual Report, and the Executive
Summary, as well as information from other sources as appropriate;
and
(2) the making of policy recommendations to the President, the
Secretary of State, and Congress with respect to matters involving
international religious freedom.
(b) Policy review and recommendations in response to violations
The Commission, in evaluating United States Government policies in
response to violations of religious freedom, shall consider and
recommend options for policies of the United States Government with
respect to each foreign country the government of which has engaged in
or tolerated violations of religious freedom, including particularly
severe violations of religious freedom, including diplomatic inquiries,
diplomatic protest, official public protest demarche of protest,
condemnation within multilateral fora, delay or cancellation of cultural
or scientific exchanges, delay or cancellation of working, official, or
state visits, reduction of certain assistance funds, termination of
certain assistance funds, imposition of targeted trade sanctions,
imposition of broad trade sanctions, and withdrawal of the chief of
mission.
(c) Policy review and recommendations in response to progress
The Commission, in evaluating the United States Government policies
with respect to countries found to be taking deliberate steps and making
significant improvement in respect for the right of religious freedom,
shall consider and recommend policy options, including private
commendation, diplomatic commendation, official public commendation,
commendation within multilateral fora, an increase in cultural or
scientific exchanges, or both, termination or reduction of existing
Presidential actions, an increase in certain assistance funds, and
invitations for working, official, or state visits.
(d) Effects on religious communities and individuals
Together with specific policy recommendations provided under
subsections (b) and (c) of this section, the Commission shall also
indicate its evaluation of the potential effects of such policies, if
implemented, on the religious communities and individuals whose rights
are found to be violated in the country in question.
(e) Monitoring
The Commission shall, on an ongoing basis, monitor facts and
circumstances of violations of religious freedom, in consultation with
independent human rights groups and nongovernmental organizations,
including churches and other religious communities, and make such
recommendations as may be necessary to the appropriate officials and
offices in the United States Government.
(Pub. L. 105-292, title II, Sec. 202, Oct. 27, 1998, 112 Stat. 2798;
Pub. L. 106-55, Sec. 1(b)(1), Aug. 17, 1999, 113 Stat. 401.)
Amendments
1999--Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 106-55 struck out heading and text of
subsec. (f). Text read as follows: ``The Commission may, for the purpose
of carrying out its duties under this subchapter, hold hearings, sit and
act at times and places in the United States, take testimony, and
receive evidence as the Commission considers advisable to carry out the
purposes of this chapter.''
Section Referred to in Other Sections
This section is referred to in sections 6433, 6435a of this title.
