A resolution observing the 10th anniversary of the uprising in Syria.

III Calendar No. 19 117TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION S. RES. 99 Observing the 10th anniversary of the uprising in Syria. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES MARCH 9, 2021 Mr. MENENDEZ (for himself, Mr. RISCH, Mr. CARDIN, Mr. RUBIO, Mrs. SHA- HEEN, Mr. JOHNSON, Mr. KAINE, Mr. ROMNEY, Mr. MURPHY, Mr. HAGERTY, Mr. COONS, Mr. CRAPO, Mr. ROUNDS, Mr. BOOKER, Mr. TILLIS, Mr. CASEY, and Mr. SULLIVAN) submitted the following resolu- tion; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations MARCH 24, 2021 Reported by Mr. MENENDEZ, without amendment RESOLUTION Observing the 10th anniversary of the uprising in Syria. Whereas 10 years ago, on March 15, 2011, in the midst of the Arab Spring, hundreds of Syrians peacefully assem- bled to call on their leadership for democratic reforms and respect for their fundamental freedoms, sparking a nationwide movement; Whereas in response to the predominantly peaceful protests, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad ordered unyielding vio- lence against the people of Syria, including arbitrary de- tentions, torture, killing, and attacks on civilians and ci- VerDate Sep 11 2014 18:40 Mar 25, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR99.RS SR99 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 2 •SRES 99 RS vilian infrastructure, often under the false premise of combating terrorism; Whereas over the course of this conflict, the Assad regime has exhibited unrelenting depravity in its use of chemical weapons and barrel bombs, deliberately targeting civilian infrastructure, including hospitals and schools, and com- mitting gross violations of international humanitarian law; Whereas the former Syrian military photographer ‘‘Caesar’’ meticulously photographed the Assad regime’s widespread system of arrest, detention, torture and murder of tens of thousands of Syrian protesters and dissidents, and then courageously smuggled 55,000 of those photographs out of Syria, exposing the regime’s barbarity for the world to witness; Whereas the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2019 (22 U.S.C. 8791 note), which became law on December 20, 2019— (1) seeks accountability for the Assad regime and its international enablers for atrocities against the Syrian people; (2) denies the Assad regime the resources to fuel its war machine; and (3) sends a clear signal to the international commu- nity against normalizing, rehabilitating, or legitimizing Assad and his backers; Whereas Iran and Russia intervened militarily in support of the Assad regime, enabling and actively participating in the Assad regime’s horrific brutalities against civilians in favor of advancing their narrow interests and in some cases empowered extremist groups; VerDate Sep 11 2014 18:40 Mar 25, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR99.RS SR99 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 3 •SRES 99 RS Whereas in pursuit of its narrow self-interest, Russia, backed by China, has blunted United Nations’ efforts to preserve vital border crossings that serve as a critical humani- tarian lifeline to the beleaguered Syrian population; Whereas the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria exacerbated the suffering of the Syrian people through the violent and hostile seizure of territory, misapplication of Islamic law, destruction and smuggling of antiquities, and oil smug- gling, turning Syria into a global hub for terrorist activ- ity; Whereas the Assad regime, and its Russian and Iranian backers, are largely responsible for the death of more than 500,000 Syrian civilians, and the displacement of more than 12,000,000 men, women, and children within and outside of Syria’s borders, imposing irreversible trau- ma and loss for a whole generation; Whereas millions of Syrians are struggling to survive, with more than 13,000,000 Syrians who are in need of hu- manitarian assistance and more than 9,000,000 Syrians who are facing food insecurity; Whereas international efforts to secure a peaceful political transition of power in Syria, in accordance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 2254, adopted on December 18, 2015, remain stymied, due almost entirely to the intransigence of Russia and the Assad regime, holding the people of Syria hostage; Whereas the people and Government of the United States support the people of Syria in their aspirations for peace, stability, dignity, and accountability: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate— 1 VerDate Sep 11 2014 18:40 Mar 25, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\SR99.RS SR99 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 4 •SRES 99 RS (1) solemnly observes the 10th anniversary of 1 the Syrian uprising; 2 (2) affirms that it is the policy of the United 3 States— 4 (A) to seek a political solution to the Syr- 5 ian conflict; 6 (B) to continue to stand with the people of 7 Syria; 8 (C) to further efforts to secure a perma- 9 nent ceasefire; 10 (D) to continue work on the constitutional 11 committee free from regime intransigence; and 12 (E) to foster conditions for free and fair 13 elections in accordance with United Nations Se- 14 curity Council Resolution 2254; 15 (3) affirms that it is the policy of the United 16 States to promote adherence to the laws of war by 17 all parties engaging in hostilities in Syria; 18 (4) affirms that it is the policy of the United 19 States to support international humanitarian efforts 20 to assist innocent civilians, including through sup- 21 port for displaced populations and the promotion of 22 accountability for perpetrators of human rights 23 abuses; 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 18:40 Mar 25, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\SR99.RS SR99 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 5 •SRES 99 RS (5) commits to continuing efforts to hold the 1 Assad regime and its Russian and Iranian backers 2 accountable for war crimes and crimes against hu- 3 manity; including through implementation of the 4 Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2019; 5 (6) commends the bravery of Syrian human 6 rights defenders who, in the service of justice and 7 accountability, have courageously documented the 8 atrocities committed by the Assad regime and its 9 Russian and Iranian backers over the course of this 10 conflict; 11 (7) condemns the indiscriminate use of force by 12 all actors in Syria, including the Assad regime, its 13 proponents, its opponents, and extremist groups; 14 and 15 (8) calls on the United States Government to 16 reinvigorate diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict 17 as outlined under United Nations Security Council 18 Resolution 2254, and to expand humanitarian aid to 19 the Syrian people so they may— 20 (A) be free from violence, whether from 21 the state or other armed groups; 22 (B) return to their communities of their 23 own free will and in an informed manner; 24 (C) participate in transitional justice; and 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 18:40 Mar 25, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\SR99.RS SR99 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 6 •SRES 99 RS (D) decide their own futures through free 1 and fair elections that result in a legitimate 2 representative government that serves all Syr- 3 ians. 4 VerDate Sep 11 2014 18:40 Mar 25, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\SR99.RS SR99 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS VerDate Sep 11 2014 18:40 Mar 25, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\SR99.RS SR99 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS Calendar No. 19 117TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION S. RES. 99 RESOLUTION Observing the 10th anniversary of the uprising in Syria. MARCH 24, 2021 Reported without amendment VerDate Sep 11 2014 18:40 Mar 25, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 6651 Sfmt 6651 E:\BILLS\SR99.RS SR99 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS