Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and I thank the Committee for holding this important hearing.

This disparity is one of our Nation's most glaring examples of injustice in the criminal justice system.

I think it would be a particularly appropriate time for this Subcommittee to look at the specifics of our obligations under that treaty and whether or not we are living up to them under our own domestic legislation.

I personally want to thank you for your commitment to put a focus in the U.S. Senate on human rights.

We need to put pressure on governments to stop the practice, and we need to recognize that the victims need to be rehabilitated.

We examined the child soldier issue. We identified countries that organizations have said have been involved in this.

Reporting alone is not enough.

Democrats and Republicans alike agree that we must make every effort to comply with the legal obligations we undertake when we ratify a human rights treaty.

We think the Subcommittee's work signals a new approach and thinking about human rights in this country.

Their presence here today speaks volumes about the administration's commitment to implementing human rights treaty obligations.

But I think your leadership is really contributing to it, so thank you.

We are going to take a look at what it means in terms of our relation and our aid program.

I have introduced legislation along that line, and it now is pending before the Committee.

Complying with our treaty obligations also enhances our efforts to advocate for human rights around the world.

This is what the Constitution requires, so it is particularly fitting that the Judiciary Committee now formally can look at these issues explicitly.

We have not held a single hearing on U.S. compliance with the human rights treaties that we have ratified.

We tried, rather than to be punitive, to be constructive in terms of making certain that resources would be dedicated to repatriating these child soldiers.

I always thought this annual report from the State Department with our human rights report card on the world was an interesting, some would say audacious position we are taking, that we are going to stand in judgment of others.

You have got to get the United States back on track, get your own house in order, because we need the United States to be a strong global leader on human rights.

This law shielded sexually exploited children from being charged with prostitution.

The truth is statistics of the U.S. Sentencing Commission and other bodies shows that the distribution of those who use these products is far closer to and equal a system than the prosecution and conviction rate would suggest.

Declaring the intent to close Guantanamo Bay was a clear message to the international community.

I think the actions taken by the President shortly after he took the oath of office to make it clear that the United States would deal with issues such as torture.

I think that we feel--and I think you share this feeling in the administration--that as painful as some of these questions may be, it is appropriate that we ask them.

The announcement yesterday with moves to close Guantanamo is a welcome step.