III 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 206 

Marking the 70th anniversary of the four Geneva Conventions of 1949, 

expressing concern about significant violations of international humanitarian law on contemporary battlefields, and encouraging United States 

leadership in ensuring greater respect for international humanitarian 

law in current conflicts, particularly with its security partners. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MAY 14, 2019 

Mr. BOOKER (for himself and Mr. YOUNG) submitted the following resolution; 

which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations 

RESOLUTION 

Marking the 70th anniversary of the four Geneva Conventions of 1949, expressing concern about significant violations of international humanitarian law on contemporary 

battlefields, and encouraging United States leadership 

in ensuring greater respect for international humanitarian law in current conflicts, particularly with its security partners. 

Whereas the four Geneva Conventions of 1949, along with 

their Additional Protocols, are the foundation of international humanitarian law (IHL), also known as the law 

of armed conflict, the body of law that seeks to ensure 

wars have limits; 


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•SRES 206 IS 

Whereas 2019 marks the 70th anniversary of the four Geneva Conventions of 1949 and serves as a reminder of the 

importance and continued relevance of IHL in a world 

with proliferating and protracted armed conflicts, unprecedented displacement, and immense suffering; 

Whereas the four Geneva Conventions of 1949 reflect more 

than just law; they reflect the universal recognition that 

wars must be fought humanely; 

Whereas, at its core, IHL sets out a fundamental obligation 

that people, even in times of armed conflict, must be 

treated with humanity; 

Whereas IHL requires all parties to armed conflicts, whether 

states or non-state armed groups, to comply with rules 

and basic principles that seek to preserve the lives and 

dignity of human beings, such as that: civilians and civilian objects must not be targeted; hospitals and medical 

personnel must be respected and must not be attacked; 

no one shall be subjected to torture or other forms of ill 

treatment; and rape and other forms of sexual violence 

are prohibited; 

Whereas today’s conflicts are marred by significant violations 

of IHL, the effects of which are apparent across armed 

conflicts, from restrictions on humanitarian access contributing to the world’s worst cholera outbreak in Yemen, 

to the use of chemical weapons in Syria, in addition to 

attacks against civilians, and attacks on medical personnel and health facilities; to the Islamic State’s use of 

civilians as human shields; to widespread killings, sexual 

violence, and forced displacement in countries such as Nigeria, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the 

Congo, Somalia, and elsewhere; 


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•SRES 206 IS 

Whereas people detained in armed conflict, including prisoners of war (POWs), often suffer torture, abuse, and inhumane living conditions, such as insufficient food, 

water, and health services; 

Whereas, while many states have taken significant steps to 

ensure humane treatment of detainees, and adequate living conditions, many others still fail to comply with basic 

standards of treatment and care as required by IHL; 

Whereas, as mandated by the Geneva Conventions, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) plays a 

vital role in visiting detainees in situations of armed conflict with a view to preventing torture and other forms 

of ill-treatment, preventing disappearances, improving 

overall detention conditions, maintaining family contacts, 

and promoting judicial guarantees; 

Whereas the United States has an expressed preference for 

pursuing its military objectives ‘‘by, with, and through’’ 

its security partners in some parts of the world, but state 

militaries and non-state armed groups with which the 

United States partners may lack sufficient commitment 

to IHL principles or capabilities to conduct their operations in a manner that effectively minimizes civilian 

harm; 

Whereas it is essential, as a critical component of its policies 

and diplomatic relations, that the United States affirms 

its commitment to not only respect the rules of IHL but 

to ensure respect by its partners and adopt policies conditioning its security assistance in this regard; 

Whereas, as the nature of warfare changes, IHL remains relevant to ensure wars are fought with limits; 


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•SRES 206 IS 

Whereas IHL was created to respond to new developments 

and domains in warfare, such as cyber operations, and 

new challenges do not undermine the importance or relevance of IHL, but rather call for affirming, applying, 

and ensuring compliance with IHL; 

Whereas sweeping counterterrorism measures and countrybased sanctions have sometimes impeded neutral, impartial lifesaving humanitarian action in countries like Somalia and Syria; 

Whereas the United States has a long tradition of implementing and upholding IHL, not just as a matter of legal 

obligation but also because respect for human life and 

protecting the vulnerable reflects the best traditions of a 

professional military force; 

Whereas United States senior military leadership often publicly recognizes that minimizing civilian harm is central 

to mission effectiveness and therefore serves the United 

States national security interests; and 

Whereas, as long as armed conflict remains a reality, there 

must also be a limit to suffering, and IHL, as outlined 

70 years ago in the four Geneva Conventions of 1949, 

sets out these limits: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that— 

2 (1) upon the 70th anniversary of the four Gene3 va Conventions of 1949, respect for international 

4 humanitarian law (IHL) remains critical to uphold5 ing humanity in war, protecting people affected by 

6 war, and preventing suffering; 


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•SRES 206 IS 

1 (2) the Executive branch and Congress must 

2 ensure that the United States Government, as the 

3 largest donor of lifesaving humanitarian aid— 

4 (A) does not employ counterterrorism 

5 measures or other sanctions that unduly impede 

6 lifesaving humanitarian action and thereby 

7 jeopardize vulnerable people’s access to re8 sources critical to their survival; and 

9 (B) upholds the longstanding United 

10 States commitment to supporting principled hu11 manitarian action; and 

12 (3) the United States must continue to be a 

13 global leader in promoting and ensuring compliance 

14 with IHL by upholding high standards of conduct 

15 within the United States Armed Forces, taking 

16 stronger measures to ensure compliance with IHL 

17 by United States security partners, holding perpetra18 tors of violations of IHL accountable, and seeking 

19 compliance with IHL by all parties to armed con20 flict. 

Æ 


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