IV 

113TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. CON. RES. 51 

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 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 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

SEPTEMBER 9, 2013 

Mr. SMITH of New Jersey (for himself, Mr. WOLF, Mr. DEFAZIO, Mr. 

MARINO, Mr. HIGGINS, Mr. WEBER of Texas, Mr. HUFFMAN, Mr. CULBERSON, Mr. PITTS, Mr. ROHRABACHER, Mr. FRANKS of Arizona, and 

Mr. FORTENBERRY) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which 

was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs 

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 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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•HCON 51 IH 

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 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 

all factions, political parties, ethnicities, and religions: 

Now, therefore, be it 


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•HCON 51 IH 

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 

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 should urge the Govern10 ment of Syria and other groups involved in civil war 

11 in Syria to implement an immediate cease fire and 

12 engage in negotiations to end the bloodshed; 

13 (2) the United States should publicly declare 

14 that it is a requirement of basic justice that war 

15 crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide, 

16 whether committed by officials of the Government of 

17 Syria, or members of other groups involved in civil 

18 war in Syria, should be investigated and prosecuted; 

19 (3) the President should direct the United 

20 States representative to the United Nations to use 

21 the voice and vote of the United States to imme22 diately promote the establishment of a Syrian war 

23 crimes tribunal, an ad hoc court to prosecute the 

24 perpetrators of such serious crimes committed dur25 ing the civil war in Syria; 


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•HCON 51 IH 

1 (4) in working with other countries to establish 

2 a Syrian war crimes tribunal, the United States 

3 should promote judicial procedures that enable the 

4 prosecution of the most culpable persons guilty of di5 recting such serious crimes; 

6 (5) the United States should make collection of 

7 information that can be supplied to a Syrian war 

8 crimes tribunal for use as evidence to support the in9 dictment and trial of any person involved in civil war 

10 in Syria and responsible for war crimes, crimes 

11 against humanity, or genocide in Syria an immediate 

12 priority; and 

13 (6) the United States should urge other inter14 ested states to apprehend and deliver into the cus15 tody of a Syrian war crimes tribunal persons in16 dicted for war crimes, crimes against humanity, or 

17 genocide in Syria and urge such states to provide in18 formation pertaining to such crimes to the tribunal. 

Æ 


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