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

Summary:
This resolution directs the Department of State to transmit to Congress a statement on human rights practices in Turkey, including the steps the United States has taken to promote human rights in the region and an assessment of whether circumstances exist that necessitate a continuation of security assistance for Turkey. The resolution also calls for information on whether U.S.-built F-16s have been used by Turkey in the conflict in the South Caucasus.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 755 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>






116th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 755

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


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

             October 22 (legislative day, October 19), 2020

 Mr. Menendez (for himself, Mr. Van Hollen, Mr. Casey, Mr. Markey, Mr. 
 Durbin, Mr. Booker, and Mr. Reed) submitted the following resolution; 
        which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


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

    Resolved,

SECTION 1. REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ON THE GOVERNMENT OF TURKEY'S HUMAN 
              RIGHTS PRACTICES.

    (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, with respect to Turkey.
    (b) Elements.--The statement submitted under subsection (a) shall 
include the following elements:
            (1) All the available information about observance of and 
        respect for human rights and fundamental freedom in Turkey, and 
        a detailed description of practices by the Government of Turkey 
        with respect thereto, including alleged violations of such 
        rights and freedoms by the Government of Turkey, including--
                    (A) arbitrary killings;
                    (B) suspicious deaths of persons in detention;
                    (C) forced disappearances;
                    (D) torture;
                    (E) arbitrary arrest and detention without charges 
                and trial;
                    (F) restrictions on freedom of expression, the 
                press, and the internet;
                    (G) restrictions on freedoms of assembly, 
                association, and movement;
                    (H) refoulement of refugees; and
                    (I) discrimination and violence against women, 
                minorities, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, 
                and intersex (LGBTI) persons.
            (2) The steps the United States Government has taken to--
                    (A) promote respect for and observance of human 
                rights in Turkey and to discourage any practices in 
                Turkey that are inimical to internationally recognized 
                human rights; and
                    (B) publicly or privately call attention to, and to 
                disassociate the United States and any security 
                assistance provided for Turkey from such practices.
            (3) Whether, in the opinion of the Secretary of State, 
        notwithstanding any such practices, 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)), and all 
        the facts pursuant to which it is in the national interest of 
        the United States to provide such assistance.
            (4) Other information, including--
                    (A) all available credible information concerning 
                alleged violations of internationally recognized human 
                rights or international humanitarian law by the 
                Government of Turkey, its armed forces, and associated 
                groups and persons in the South Caucasus, Syria, Libya, 
                and Iraq, including through indiscriminate or 
                disproportionate attacks, the displacement of civilian 
                populations, and attacks on civilian infrastructure and 
                houses of worship;
                    (B) whether United States-built F-16s have been 
                used by the Government of Turkey in the South Caucasus 
                since conflict in the region escalated on September 27, 
                2020, in a manner inimical to internationally 
                recognized human rights; and
                    (C) a description of the steps the United States 
                has taken to--
                            (i) discourage any practices by the 
                        Government of Turkey, its armed forces, or 
                        associated groups or persons in the South 
                        Caucasus, Syria, Libya, or Iraq that are 
                        inimical to internationally recognized human 
                        rights; and
                            (ii) publicly or privately call attention 
                        to, and disassociate the United States and any 
                        security assistance provided to the Government 
                        of Turkey from such practices in the South 
                        Caucasus, Syria, Libya, or Iraq.
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