Title: Condemning the senseless attacks on hospitals and medical personnel in Syria, and for other purposes.
Policy area: International Affairs

Summary:
Condemns the attacks on hospitals, medical personnel, and emergency responders by the government of Syria and the Russian Federation, and calls on all parties to: (1) end the attacks on medical facilities; (2) cease targeting medical workers; and (3) allow unhindered medical assistance, humanitarian assistance, and medical evacuation of urgent cases to besieged areas.
Calls on the Department of State to work with the international community to conduct full, prompt, impartial, and effective investigations of violations of international humanitarian law related to attacks on medical personnel and facilities.

[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 632 Introduced in House (IH)]

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115th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 632

Condemning the senseless attacks on hospitals and medical personnel in 
                     Syria, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           November 28, 2017

 Mr. Brendan F. Boyle of Pennsylvania (for himself and Mr. Kinzinger) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
                           on Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Condemning the senseless attacks on hospitals and medical personnel in 
                     Syria, and for other purposes.

Whereas health facilities and medical workers are systematically targeted in 
        Syria;
Whereas in the last six years, there have been more than 400 attacks on 
        hospitals in Syria and more than 800 medical personnel, including 190 
        volunteers from the Syrian Civil Defense, also known as the White 
        Helmets;
Whereas Physicians for Human Rights reports that 90 percent of the attacks 
        against hospitals and medical personnel were conducted by the Government 
        of Syria and the Russian Federation;
Whereas the Government of Syria and the Russian Federation deliberately and 
        strategically target medical facilitates and first responders to 
        maximize casualties;
Whereas United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stated, ``These 
        attacks are evidence of a broader trend: parties to conflict are 
        treating hospitals and health clinics as targets, rather than respecting 
        them as sanctuaries.'';
Whereas there are specific obligations under international humanitarian law to 
        respect and protect, in situations of armed conflict, medical personnel 
        and humanitarian personnel exclusively engaged in medical duties, their 
        means of transport and equipment, and hospitals and other medical 
        facilities;
Whereas there is an obligation under international humanitarian law to 
        distinguish between civilian populations and combatants, and the 
        prohibition against indiscriminate attacks, and the obligations to do 
        everything feasible to verify that the objectives to be attacked are 
        neither civilians nor civilian objects and are not subject to special 
        protection, including medical personnel, their means of transport and 
        equipment, and hospitals and other medical facilities;
Whereas under international humanitarian law, persons engaged in medical 
        activities shall not be compelled to perform acts or to carry out work 
        contrary to the rules of medical ethics or to other medical rules 
        designed for the benefit of the wounded and the sick;
Whereas these acts of violence, attacks, and threats against medical personnel 
        and humanitarian personnel exclusively engaged in medical duties, their 
        means of transport and equipment, as well as hospitals and other medical 
        facilities, and obstructing the delivery of humanitarian assistance, 
        including medical assistance, may exacerbate ongoing armed conflicts and 
        undermine the efforts of medical personnel and humanitarian personnel;
Whereas the United Nations Security Council adopted Resolution 2286 on May 3, 
        2016, which demands that, ``all parties to armed conflict fully comply 
        with their obligation under international law, including international 
        human rights law, as applicable, and international humanitarian law. . . 
        to ensure the respect and protection of all medical personnel and 
        humanitarian personnel exclusively engaged in medical duties, their 
        means of transport and equipment, as well as hospitals and other medical 
        facilities'';
Whereas any deliberate attack on civilians in Syria by all parties constitutes a 
        major violation of international law and undermines efforts to stop the 
        bloodshed and reach a lasting, internationally negotiated peace through 
        the Geneva and Vienna process; and
Whereas the rate of attacks perpetrated on healthcare personnel have continued 
        to increase dramatically: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) condemns the senseless attacks on hospitals, medical 
        personnel, and emergency responders by the Government of Syria 
        and the Russian Federation;
            (2) calls on all parties to--
                    (A) end the attacks on medical facilities;
                    (B) cease targeting medical workers; and
                    (C) allow unhindered medical assistance, 
                humanitarian assistance, and medical evacuation of 
                urgent cases to besieged and hard to reach areas;
            (3) calls on the Secretary of State to work with the 
        international community to conduct full, prompt, impartial, and 
        effective investigations of violations of international 
        humanitarian law related to the protection of the wounded and 
        sick, medical personnel, and humanitarian personnel exclusively 
        engaged in medical duties, their means of transport and 
        equipment, as well as hospitals and other medical facilities in 
        armed conflict, and, where appropriate, take action against 
        those with a view to reinforce preventive measures, ensuring 
        accountability and addressing the grievances of victims in 
        Syria; and
            (4) requests the Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance 
        to conduct a feasibility study on the construction of 
        underground fortified facilities for the protection of the 
        individuals described in paragraph (3).
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