[Congressional Bills 103th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 159 Introduced in House (IH)]

103d CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 159

   Concerning the identification of United States military personnel 
    involved in United Nations and other multinational peacekeeping 
         operations for the purposes of the Geneva Convention.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            October 6, 1993

    Ms. Snowe (for herself and Mr. Gilman) submitted the following 
 concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign 
                                Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
   Concerning the identification of United States military personnel 
    involved in United Nations and other multinational peacekeeping 
         operations for the purposes of the Geneva Convention.

Whereas the United States has deployed United States Armed Forces personnel to 
        serve in United Nations and other multilateral peacekeeping operations 
        abroad, including Somalia, Haiti, and the former Yugoslav republic of 
        Macedonia;
Whereas the United States is considering significantly expanding the deployment 
        of United States military personnel as part of United Nations and other 
        multilateral peacekeeping forces;
Whereas serious concern has been raised about the deployment of United States 
        military personnel as part of multilateral peacekeeping forces, 
        particularly when such forces are not under United States operational 
        control, because of the reduced ability of the United States to protect 
        the safety of such personnel, both in combat and if captured;
Whereas on October 3 and 4, 1993, the forces of Somali warlord Mohamed Farah 
        Aideed captured at least one American soldier serving in support of the 
        United Nations peacekeeping operation in Somalia and publicly committed 
        horrible atrocities against members of the United States Armed Forces;
Whereas it was reported that General Aideed planned to use American prisoners as 
        human shields in direct violation of the 1949 Geneva Convention Relative 
        to the Treatment of Prisoners of War;
Whereas the Geneva Convention contains numerous protections for internationally 
        recognized prisoners of war, including the right to prosecute those 
        violating such protections; and
Whereas the Department of State and the United Nations have declared that the 
        protections of the Geneva Convention relevant to prisoners of war do not 
        apply in the case of American soldiers held prisoner in Somalia: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That the President should ensure that any member of the United States 
Armed Forces participating in any United Nations or other multinational 
peacekeeping operation shall have access to the full protection of the 
Geneva Convention Relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War of 
August 12, 1949, if taken captive and held against his or her will by 
combatants or other parties to a conflict.

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