III 

113TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. CON. RES. 32 

Expressing the sense of Congress regarding the need for investigation and 

prosecution of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide, whether committed by officials of the Government of Syria, or members of 

other groups involved in civil war in Syria, and calling on the President 

to direct the United States Permanent Representative to the United 

Nations to use the voice and vote of the United States to immediately 

promote the establishment of a Syrian war crimes tribunal, and for 

other purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

FEBRUARY 25, 2014 

Mr. DURBIN (for himself and Mr. RUBIO) submitted the following concurrent 

resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations 

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 

Expressing the sense of Congress regarding the need for 

investigation and prosecution of war crimes, crimes 

against humanity, and genocide, whether committed by 

officials of the Government of Syria, or members of 

other groups involved in civil war in Syria, and calling 

on the President to direct the United States Permanent 

Representative to the United Nations to use the voice 

and vote of the United States to immediately promote 

the establishment of a Syrian war crimes tribunal, and 

for other purposes. 


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•SCON 32 IS 

Whereas the Government of Syria is reported to have engaged in widespread torture, rape, and massacre of civilians, including by means of chemical weapons, most recently on or about August 21, 2013; 

Whereas other groups involved in civil war in Syria, including 

the al-Nusra Front, are reported to have engaged in torture, rape, summary execution of government soldiers, 

kidnapping for ransom, and violence against civilians, including Christians and others who are not Sunni Muslims; 

Whereas these and other actions perpetrated by the Government of Syria and other groups involved in civil war in 

Syria may constitute war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide; 

Whereas Syria is not a state-party to the Rome Statute of 

the International Criminal Court, done at Rome July 17, 

1998, and is not a member of the International Criminal 

Court; 

Whereas the international community has previously established ad hoc tribunals through the United Nations to 

bring justice in specific countries where there have been 

war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide; 

Whereas ad hoc tribunals, including the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, the International 

Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, and the Special Court for 

Sierra Leone, have successfully investigated and prosecuted war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide, and there are many positive lessons to be learned 

from these three ad hoc tribunals; and 

Whereas any lasting, peaceful solution to civil war in Syria 

must be based upon justice for all, including members of 


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•SCON 32 IS 

all factions, political parties, ethnicities, and religions: 

Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 

2 concurring), 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This concurrent resolution may be cited as the ‘‘Im5 mediate Establishment of Syrian War Crimes Tribunal 

6 Resolution’’. 

7 SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS. 

8 It is the sense of Congress that— 

9 (1) the United States Government should urge 

10 the Government of Syria and other groups involved 

11 in civil war in Syria to implement an immediate 

12 cease fire and engage in negotiations to end the 

13 bloodshed; 

14 (2) the United States Government should pub15 licly declare that it is a requirement of basic justice 

16 that war crimes, crimes against humanity, and geno17 cide, whether committed by officials of the Govern18 ment of Syria, or members of other groups involved 

19 in civil war in Syria, should be investigated and 

20 prosecuted; 

21 (3) the President should direct the United 

22 States Permanent Representative to the United Na23 tions to use the voice and vote of the United States 

24 to immediately promote the establishment of a SyrVerDate Mar 15 2010 20:48 Feb 25, 2014 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\SC32.IS SC32

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•SCON 32 IS 

1 ian war crimes tribunal, an ad hoc court to pros2 ecute the perpetrators of such serious crimes com3 mitted during the civil war in Syria; 

4 (4) in working with other countries to establish 

5 a Syrian war crimes tribunal, the United States 

6 Government should promote judicial procedures that 

7 enable the prosecution of the most culpable persons 

8 guilty of directing such serious crimes; 

9 (5) the United States Government should make 

10 an immediate priority the collection of information 

11 that can be supplied to a Syrian war crimes tribunal 

12 for use as evidence to support the indictment and 

13 trial of any person involved in civil war in Syria and 

14 responsible for war crimes, crimes against humanity, 

15 or genocide in Syria; and 

16 (6) the United States Government should urge 

17 other interested states to apprehend and deliver into 

18 the custody of a Syrian war crimes tribunal persons 

19 indicted for war crimes, crimes against humanity, or 

20 genocide in Syria and urge such states to provide in21 formation pertaining to such crimes to the tribunal. 

Æ 


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