Title: A resolution requesting information on Turkey's human rights practices in Syria pursuant to section 502B(c) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961.
Policy area: International Affairs

Summary:
This resolution requires the Department of State to transmit a statement on Turkey's human rights practices in Syria. The resolution calls for specific elements to be included in the statement, including a description of the steps that the United States has taken to promote human rights in Turkey and an assessment of the extent to which security assistance to Turkey should be continued.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 409 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>






116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 409

  Requesting information on Turkey's human rights practices in Syria 
   pursuant to section 502B(c) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            November 6, 2019

   Mr. Menendez (for himself and Mr. Murphy) submitted the following 
  resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Requesting information on Turkey's human rights practices in Syria 
   pursuant to section 502B(c) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961.

    Resolved,

SECTION 1. REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ON TURKEY'S HUMAN RIGHTS PRACTICES 
              IN SYRIA.

    (a) Statement Required.--Not later than 30 days after the date of 
the adoption of this resolution, the Secretary of State shall, pursuant 
to section 502B(c) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 
2304(c)), transmit to the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate 
and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives a 
statement, prepared with the assistance of the Assistant Secretary of 
State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor and the Office of the 
Legal Adviser, with respect to Turkey.
    (b) Elements.--The statement submitted under subsection (a) shall 
include the following elements:
            (1) All available credible information concerning alleged 
        violations of internationally recognized human rights by the 
        Government of Turkey, its armed forces, and associated groups 
        and persons, including the denial of the right to life in the 
        context of their activities in Syria caused by indiscriminate 
        or disproportionate operations, the infliction of civilian 
        casualties, and the displacement of civilian populations.
            (2) A description of the steps the United States Government 
        has taken--
                    (A) to promote respect for and observance of human 
                rights as part of Turkey's activities in Syria and 
                discourage any practices that are inimical to 
                internationally recognized human rights; and
                    (B) to publicly or privately call attention to, and 
                disassociate the United States and any security 
                assistance provided for Turkey from, such practices.
            (3) An assessment, notwithstanding any such practices, 
        whether extraordinary circumstances exist that necessitate a 
        continuation of security assistance for Turkey and, if so, a 
        description of the circumstances and the extent to which the 
        assistance should be continued (subject to such conditions as 
        Congress may impose under section 502B of the Foreign 
        Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2304)).
            (4) Other information, including--
                    (A) an assessment from the Secretary of State of 
                the likelihood that United States security assistance, 
                as defined in section 502B(d) of the Foreign Assistance 
                Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2304(d)), has been and will be 
                used in Syria;
                    (B) a description of the extent to which the 
                activities of the Government of Turkey, its armed 
                forces, and associated groups or persons have--
                            (i) caused, assisted, or resulted in the 
                        release of ISIS fighters, supporters, and other 
                        extremists from detention; or
                            (ii) promoted conditions that support, 
                        assist or have resulted or could result in a 
                        strengthening of the military capabilities of 
                        such fighters and extremists within Syria, 
                        including the practical control over territory;
                    (C) a description of the extent to which such 
                strengthening of such capabilities of ISIS and other 
                extremist groups and persons could increase the threat 
                to the United States, United States citizens, and 
                United States interests, both in the United States and 
                abroad;
                    (D) a description of efforts by the Secretary of 
                State and other United States officials to persuade the 
                Government of Turkey to cease its activities in Syria 
                and commitments to support United States and 
                multilateral efforts to comprehensively defeat ISIS 
                within Syria;
                    (E) a determination whether Turkey's purchase and 
                acceptance of delivery of the S-400 missile system from 
                the Russian Federation constitutes a ``significant 
                transaction'' pursuant to section 231 of the Countering 
                America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (22 U.S.C. 
                9525);
                    (F) a description of any actions by the Government 
                of Turkey to forcibly repatriate Syrian refugees; and
                    (G) an assessment of whether the Government of 
                Turkey is blocking humanitarian aid from reaching 
                communities in need of assistance in northeast Syria.
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