Condemning the rape and assault of women by Russian forces in the occupied area of Bucha, Ukraine, and calling on Vladimir Putin and the Russian Federation to remove all Russian forces from Ukraine, and to cease all hostilities, protect human rights, and allow the free flow of aid.

Whereas the ongoing war in Ukraine that started in 2014 with Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea is impacting Ukrainians’ safety, health, and human rights, particularly those of women; Whereas, on March 21, 2022, the United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict called upon all parties to the war in Ukraine to ensure the protection of all civilians, especially women and girls who are at heightened risk for sexual violence; Whereas, on April 4, 2022, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights said that it is vital that all efforts are made to ensure there are independent and effective investigations into what happened in Bucha to ensure truth, justice and accountability, as well as reparations and remedy for victims and their families Whereas Human Rights Watch has documented several cases of Russian forces committing violations of the laws of war against civilians in occupied areas of the Chernihiv, Kharkiv, and Kyiv regions of Ukraine; Whereas, on April 5, 2022, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told the United Nations Security Council that Russia’s men had tortured civilians and raped women in front of their children Whereas, on April 3, 2022, the Department of State strongly condemned the atrocities by the Russian forces in Bucha and across Ukraine; Whereas, due to Putin’s deliberate disruption of the free flow of humanitarian aid, many displaced civilians are sheltering in unfinished or damaged buildings, thus increasing risks of gender-based violence and the spread of infectious diseases; and Whereas, on April 1, 2022, Amnesty International reported that violence against women knows few bounds and that violence against women is a violation of human rights that cannot be justified by any political, religious, or cultural claim That the House of Representatives— (1) condemns the rape and assault of women by Russian forces in the occupied area of Bucha, Ukraine; (2) urges the prosecution, by the appropriate authorities, of those responsible for ordering or carrying out the violence in Ukraine; (3) condemns the deliberate disruption of the free flow of humanitarian aid that is harming innocent civilians, particularly women; (4) reaffirms the importance of diplomatic pressure on all parties to the conflict to fulfill their obligations under international human rights and humanitarian law, and allow unencumbered access for humanitarian responders to provide aid to people impacted by the violence; (5) highlights the critical importance of ensuring women meaningfully participate in— (A) the planning and execution of humanitarian actions; and (B) the negotiation of peace agreements to meet their unique needs and to protect their human rights; and (6) calls on Vladimir Putin to— (A) condemn sexual and gender-based violence against women and girls in this conflict; (B) hold all perpetrators who commit acts of sexual and gender-based violence accountable; (C) cease all hostilities, protect human rights, and allow unencumbered humanitarian access; and (D) remove all Russian Armed Forces, and other armed groups, from Ukraine.

Summary: This resolution condemns the rape and assault of women by Russian forces in the occupied area of Bucha, Ukraine. The resolution condemns the deliberate disruption of the free flow of humanitarian aid that is harming innocent civilians, particularly women. The resolution also highlights the critical importance of ensuring women meaningfully participate in the planning and execution of humanitarian actions and the negotiation of peace agreements to meet their unique needs and to protect their human rights. Finally, the resolution calls on Vladimir Putin to condemn sexual and gender-based violence against women and girls in this conflict; hold all perpetrators who commit acts of sexual and gender-based violence accountable; cease all hostilities, protect human rights, and allow unencumbered humanitarian access; and remove all Russian Armed Forces, and other armed groups, from Ukraine.