118 STAT. 913 PUBLIC LAW 108–283—AUG. 2, 2004 (8) Individuals who have been displaced by the conflict in Uganda often suffer from acute malnutrition and the mor tality rate for children in northern Uganda who have been displaced is very high. (9) In the latter part of 2003, humanitarian and human rights organizations operating in northern Uganda reported an increase in violence directed at their efforts and at civilians, including a sharp increase in child abductions. (10) The Government of Uganda’s military efforts to resolve this conflict, including the arming and training of local militia forces, have not ensured the security of civilian populations in the region to date. (11) The continued instability and lack of security in Uganda has severely hindered the ability of any organization or governmental entity to deliver regular humanitarian assist ance and services to individuals who have been displaced or otherwise negatively affected by the conflict. SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS. It is the sense of Congress that the Government of the United States should— (1) work vigorously to support ongoing efforts to explore the prospects for a peaceful resolution of the conflict in northern and eastern Uganda; (2) work with the Government of Uganda and the inter national community to make available sufficient resources to meet the immediate relief and development needs of the towns and cities in Uganda that are supporting large numbers of people who have been displaced by the conflict; (3) urge the Government of Uganda and the international community to assume greater responsibility for the protection of civilians and economic development in regions in Uganda affected by the conflict, and to place a high priority on providing security, economic development, and humanitarian assistance to the people of Uganda; (4) work with the international community, the Govern ment of Uganda, and civil society in northern and eastern Uganda to develop a plan whereby those now displaced may return to their homes or to other locations where they may become economically productive; (5) urge the leaders and members of the Lord’s Resistance Army to stop the abduction of children, and urge all armed forces in Uganda to stop the use of child soldiers, and seek the release of all individuals who have been abducted; (6) make available increased resources for assistance to individuals who were abducted during the conflict, child sol diers, and other children affected by the conflict; (7) work with the Government of Uganda, other countries, and international organizations to ensure that sufficient resources and technical support are devoted to the demobiliza tion and reintegration of rebel combatants and abductees forced by their captors to serve in non combatant support roles; (8) cooperate with the international community to support civil society organizations and leaders in Uganda, including Acholi religious leaders, who are working toward a just and lasting resolution to the conflict;
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