Syrian War Crimes Accountability Act of 2015

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The expanded summary of the Senate reported version is repeated here.)

Syrian War Crimes Accountability Act of 2015

(Sec. 3) Declares that Congress:

• condemns the ongoing violence, use of chemical weapons, targeting of civilian populations, and systematic gross human rights violations carried out by government of Syria and pro-government forces under the direction of President Bashar al-Assad, as well as abuses committed by extremist groups and other combatants involved in the civil war in Syria;
• supports the people of Syria seeking democratic change;
• urges all parties to the conflict to halt attacks on civilians;
• calls on the President to support efforts in Syria and on the part of the international community to ensure accountability for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during the conflict; and
• calls for a United Nations Security Council investigation into gross violations of human rights and war crimes committed during the Syrian conflict.

(Sec. 4) Requires the Department of State to report to Congress regarding war crimes and crimes against humanity in Syria, including descriptions of:

• violations of internationally recognized human rights, war crimes, and crimes against humanity perpetrated during the civil war in Syria; and
• efforts by the Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development to ensure accountability for violations of internationally recognized human rights, international humanitarian law, and crimes against humanity perpetrated in Syria by the regime of President Bashar al-Assad, violent extremist groups, and other combatants involved in the conflict.