Syrian War Crimes Accountability Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-905
Sponsor: Sen. Cardin, Benjamin L. [D-MD]
Introduced: 2017-04-07 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Chemical and biological weapons
Conflicts and wars
Congressional oversight
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
Evidence and witnesses
Foreign aid and international relief
Government studies and investigations
Human rights
International law and treaties
International organizations and cooperation
Judicial procedure and administration
Middle East
Political movements and philosophies
Syria
United Nations
War crimes, genocide, crimes against humanity

Summary:
action_date: 2017-04-07
text: 

Syrian War Crimes Accountability Act of 2017

 
This bill: (1) condemns the violence and human rights violations carried out by the Syrian government and pro-government forces; (2) urges all parties to halt civilian attacks; and (3) calls on the President to support efforts to ensure accountability for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide committed during the conflict.
 
The Department of State shall report to Congress on war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide committed in Syria.
 
The State Department shall: (1) complete a study of the feasibility of potential transitional justice mechanisms for Syria (including a hybrid tribunal) to address war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide perpetrated in Syria beginning in March 2011; and (2) include in the report on such study recommendations on which transitional justice mechanisms the U.S. government should support, why, and what type of support should be offered.
 
The State Department may provide assistance to entities that: (1) identify suspected perpetrators of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide; (2) collect evidence of crimes; (3) conduct criminal investigations or protect witnesses; or (4) build Syria's investigative, enforcement, and judicial capacities. The State Department also may provide assistance to support the creation and operation of transitional justice mechanisms.
 
The bill includes in the State Department's Rewards for Justice program information leading to the arrest or conviction of perpetrators of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide committed in Syria beginning in March 2011.
 
The bill calls for the State Department to advocate that the United Nations Human Rights Council annually extend the mandate of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic until the commission has completed its investigation of alleged violations of international human rights laws in Syria beginning in March 2011. 

action_date: 2017-06-12
text: 

Syrian War Crimes Accountability Act of 2017

 
 (Sec. 3) This bill: (1) condemns the violence and human rights violations carried out by the Syrian government and pro-government forces; (2) urges all parties to halt civilian attacks; (3) expresses support for the people of Syria seeking democratic change; and (4) calls on the President to support efforts to ensure accountability for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide committed during the conflict in Syria.
 
 (Sec. 5) The Department of State shall report to Congress regarding: (1) war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide committed in Syria; and (2) an assessment by the State Department's Office of Global Criminal Justice, the U.S. Agency for International Development, the Department of Justice, and other agencies with respect to U.S. programs to ensure accountability for such activities by the regime of President Bashar al-Assad, violent extremist groups, and other combatants. 
 
The State Department shall take due care to ensure that the identification of witnesses and physical evidence are not publicly disclosed in a manner that might place such persons at risk or encourage the destruction of evidence. 
 
 (Sec. 6) The State Department shall: (1) complete a study of the feasibility of potential transitional justice mechanisms for Syria (including a hybrid tribunal) to address war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide perpetrated in Syria beginning in March 2011; and (2) include in the report on such study recommendations on which transitional justice mechanisms the U.S. government should support, why, and how.
 
 (Sec. 7) The State Department may provide assistance to entities that: (1) identify suspected perpetrators (including non-state armed groups) of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide; (2) collect and protect evidence of crimes; (3) conduct criminal investigations; (4) protect witnesses; or (5) build Syria's investigative, enforcement, and judicial capacities. The State Department also may provide assistance to support the creation and operation of transitional justice mechanisms.
 
 (Sec. 8) The bill authorizes the State Department to make payments, under the Rewards for Justice Program, for information leading to the arrest or conviction of perpetrators of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide committed in Syria beginning in March 2011.
 
(Sec. 9) The bill calls for the State Department to advocate that the United Nations Human Rights Council, while the United States remains a member, annually extend the mandate of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic until the commission has completed its investigation of alleged violations of international human rights laws in Syria beginning in March 2011. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-06-12
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 134.
action_date: 2017-06-12
text: Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Corker with amendments. Without written report.
action_date: 2017-06-12
text: Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Corker with amendments. Without written report.
action_date: 2017-05-25
text: Committee on Foreign Relations. Ordered to be reported with amendments favorably.
action_date: 2017-04-07
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2017-04-07
text: Introduced in Senate