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[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 229 Introduced in House (IH)]

113th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 229

  Calling for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and others to be tried 
 before the International Criminal Court for committing war crimes and 
                        crimes against humanity.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 21, 2013

     Mr. Israel (for himself and Mr. Cole) submitted the following 
   resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
  Calling for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and others to be tried 
 before the International Criminal Court for committing war crimes and 
                        crimes against humanity.

Whereas the United Nations estimates that since the uprising in Syria began in 
        March 2011, more than 70,000 people have been killed;
Whereas Syria and neighboring countries are facing a growing humanitarian 
        crisis, with hundreds of thousands of Syrians having fled the country, 
        and millions being displaced internally;
Whereas under the command of President Bashar al-Assad, Syrian Government forces 
        and shabiha forces have been accused of gross human rights violations 
        including heavy shelling of civilian areas, widespread pillaging and the 
        burning of homes, denial of basic human needs such as food, water, and 
        medical care, mass torture and arrests, unlawful detention, and brutal 
        execution-style killings;
Whereas the United States has implemented a series of sanctions through five 
        Executive orders pertaining to the situation in Syria;
Whereas the United Nations Human Rights Council has held four Special Sessions, 
        issued four reports of the Independent International Commission of 
        Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic, and adopted seven resolutions 
        devoted to the situation in Syria;
Whereas the United Nations Security Council has adopted three resolutions 
        authorizing an advance team to monitor the ceasefire in Syria and a 
        short-lived United Nations Supervision Mission in Syria (UNSMIS);
Whereas the United Nations General Assembly has adopted five resolutions 
        regarding human rights and the situation in Syria;
Whereas the situation in Syria continues to deteriorate despite such actions by 
        the international community;
Whereas, on February 22, 2012, the United Nations Independent International 
        Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic found in its second 
        report that after further review, ``a reliable body of evidence exists 
        that, consistent with other verified circumstances, provides reasonable 
        grounds to believe that particular individuals, including commanding 
        officers and officials at the highest levels of Government, bear 
        responsibility for crimes against humanity and other gross human rights 
        violations.'';
Whereas, on February 5, 2013, the United Nations Independent International 
        Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic found in its report 
        that Syrian forces and affiliated militia committed crimes against 
        humanity, war crimes, and gross violations of international human rights 
        and that anti-government forces committed war crimes;
Whereas the February 5, 2013, United Nations Independent International 
        Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic found that government 
        forces, affiliated militia, and anti-government forces have violated the 
        rights of children and that government forces and affiliated militia 
        have committed widespread sexual violence;
Whereas the report recommends that the United Nations Security Council ``take 
        appropriate action and commit to human rights and the rule of law by 
        means of referral to justice, possibly to the International Criminal 
        Court, bearing in mind that, in the context of the Syrian Arab Republic, 
        only the Security Council is competent to refer the situation to the 
        Court'';
Whereas the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has repeatedly 
        called on the United Nations Security Council to consider referring the 
        situation of Syria to the International Criminal Court; and
Whereas the International Criminal Court is an independent body whose mission is 
        to investigate and prosecute individuals for crimes within its 
        jurisdiction, including crimes against humanity, war crimes, and 
        genocide: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) strongly condemns the ongoing violence and the 
        systematic gross human rights violations carried out by Syrian 
        Government forces under direction of President Bashar al-Assad 
        as well as abuses committed by opposition forces;
            (2) expresses its support for the people of Syria seeking 
        peaceful democratic change; and
            (3) calls on the United Nations Security Council, based on 
        evidence that war crimes and crimes against humanity have been 
        perpetrated in Syria, to refer the situation of Syria to the 
        International Criminal Court.
                                 <all>
```