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, wheth-
er 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 pur-
poses. 
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. CUL-
BERSON, 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 representa-
tive to the United Nations to use the voice and vote 
of the United States to immediately promote the estab-
lishment 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 en-
gaged in widespread torture, rape, and massacre of civil-
ians, including by means of chemical weapons, most re-
cently 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 tor-
ture, rape, summary execution of government soldiers, 
kidnapping for ransom, and violence against civilians, in-
cluding Christians and others who are not Sunni Mus-
lims; 
Whereas these and other actions perpetrated by the Govern-
ment of Syria and other groups involved in civil war in 
Syria may constitute war crimes, crimes against human-
ity, 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 estab-
lished 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 Crimi-
nal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, the International 
Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, and the Special Court for 
Sierra Leone, have successfully investigated and pros-
ecuted war crimes, crimes against humanity, and geno-
cide, 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 
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
concurring), 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This concurrent resolution may be cited as the ‘‘Im-
mediate Establishment of Syrian War Crimes Tribunal 
Resolution’’. 
SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS. 
It is the sense of Congress that— 
(1) the United States should urge the Govern-
ment of Syria and other groups involved in civil war 
in Syria to implement an immediate cease fire and 
engage in negotiations to end the bloodshed; 
(2) the United States should publicly declare 
that it is a requirement of basic justice that 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, should be investigated and prosecuted; 
(3) the President should direct the United 
States representative to the United Nations to use 
the voice and vote of the United States to imme-
diately promote the establishment of a Syrian war 
crimes tribunal, an ad hoc court to prosecute the 
perpetrators of such serious crimes committed dur-
ing the civil war in Syria; 
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