Cardin, Rubio to Pompeo: U.S. Must Lead on Syria Accountability

Press Release

U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), both senior members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, wrote to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo Wednesday regarding the U.S. role in post-war Syria, highlighting the legislation they wrote to help America lead in seeking accountability from Bashar al-Assad and other perpetrators of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

The Syrian War Crimes Accountability Act, co-authored by Senators Cardin and Rubio and passed by the Foreign Relations Committee multiple times in the past few years, became law recently as Section 1232 of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2019.

"Assad's violations of international human rights law are well-documented and amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity," the senators wrote. "To ensure justice for these grave violations of human rights and humanitarian law, the United States must lead in laying the groundwork for effective accountability in a post-war Syria."

In the letter, the Senators point to the various tools the law authorizes such as technical assistance, support for transitional justice mechanisms, and utilization of the Rewards for Justice Program.

Senators Cardin and Rubio also expressed concern about the administration's decision to reprogram $230 million in FY17 foreign assistance funds planned for Syria stabilization activities. "We urge you to reconsider re-programming these funds, not only to sustain the United States' engagement and leverage, but also to ensure that resources exist to adequately implement this bipartisan law," the lawmakers added.

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