IV 

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 


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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.’’; 


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•HRES 229 IH 

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 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 


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•HRES 229 IH 

1 (1) strongly condemns the ongoing violence and 

2 the systematic gross human rights violations carried 

3 out by Syrian Government forces under direction of 

4 President Bashar al-Assad as well as abuses com5 mitted by opposition forces; 

6 (2) expresses its support for the people of Syria 

7 seeking peaceful democratic change; and 

8 (3) calls on the United Nations Security Coun9 cil, based on evidence that war crimes and crimes 

10 against humanity have been perpetrated in Syria, to 

11 refer the situation of Syria to the International 

12 Criminal Court. 

Æ 


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