[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 131 Introduced in House (IH)]

113th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 131

Concerning the ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo 
    and the need for international efforts toward long-term peace, 
               stability, and observance of human rights.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 21, 2013

 Ms. Bass (for herself, Mr. Smith of New Jersey, Mr. Meeks, Mr. Sires, 
 Mr. Connolly, Mr. Deutch, Mr. Keating, Mr. Cicilline, Mr. Vargas, Mr. 
   Lowenthal, Mr. McGovern, Mr. McDermott, Mr. Rangel, Mr. Smith of 
 Washington, Mr. Johnson of Georgia, Ms. Lee of California, Mr. Lewis, 
Mr. Moran, Ms. Norton, Mr. Payne, Mr. Rush, Mr. Takano, Mrs. Carolyn B. 
Maloney of New York, Mr. Honda, Ms. Edwards, Mrs. Beatty, Mr. Capuano, 
  Mr. Cleaver, Mrs. Christensen, Mr. Danny K. Davis of Illinois, Ms. 
Eddie Bernice Johnson of Texas, Ms. Wilson of Florida, Mr. David Scott 
   of Georgia, Mr. Hastings of Florida, Mr. Clyburn, Mr. Veasey, Mr. 
  Thompson of Mississippi, Mr. Watt, Ms. Schakowsky, Ms. Speier, Ms. 
 Jackson Lee, Ms. Hahn, Ms. Fudge, Ms. Moore, Mr. Ellison, Ms. Clarke, 
 Mr. Larsen of Washington, Mr. Scott of Virginia, Ms. Waters, and Mr. 
   Bishop of Georgia) submitted the following resolution; which was 
              referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Concerning the ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo 
    and the need for international efforts toward long-term peace, 
               stability, and observance of human rights.

Whereas since the 1990s, an estimated 5,000,000 people have died and more than 
        2,000,000 people have been displaced due to repeated cycles of conflict 
        and atrocities, particularly those in North and South Kivu provinces;
Whereas the United Nations and humanitarian groups have reported staggering 
        rates of sexual violence indicating tens of thousands of cases 
        perpetrated by the Congolese army and armed groups, including the M23 
        and the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda, which continue 
        to operate with nearly total impunity;
Whereas human rights defenders in the Democratic Republic of the Congo have been 
        subject to intimidation and attack;
Whereas the Democratic Republic of the Congo's wealth of natural resources, 
        including minerals and high-value wildlife products such as elephant 
        ivory, have been a key driver of insurrection and violence, and the 
        discovery and exploitation of oil could motivate further conflict;
Whereas the deeply flawed November 2011 elections in the Democratic Republic of 
        the Congo laid bare significant political, economic, and social 
        challenges;
Whereas the Democratic Republic of the Congo is home to one of the world's 
        longest enduring and most expensive international peacekeeping 
        operations;
Whereas the November 20, 2012, seizure of the city of Goma by the M23 rebel 
        group, despite bilateral and multilateral efforts to address 
        longstanding humanitarian crises, forge lasting peace, and pursue 
        security sector reform and accountability, demonstrates that the 
        underlying causes of the recurring conflicts in the eastern provinces of 
        the Democratic Republic of the Congo remain unresolved;
Whereas on November 15, 2012, the United Nations Group of Experts provided 
        compelling evidence, in report findings corroborated by the United 
        States Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs in testimony 
        before the United States House of Representatives on December 11, 2012, 
        and December 19, 2012, that the M23 crisis is fueled and exacerbated by 
        the Government of Rwanda, including through Rwandan Government provision 
        of significant military and logistical assistance, and of operational 
        and political guidance and support, to the M23; and
Whereas the United Nations and United States have imposed sanctions on the M23 
        and its leaders for human rights atrocities including rape, massacres, 
        and the recruitment and physical and psychological torture of child 
        soldiers: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) asserts that the region's leaders and the international 
        community should break the cycle of violence and impunity in 
        the Democratic Republic of the Congo and surrounding region and 
        urgently address the root causes of the M23 conflict and 
        previous crises;
            (2) calls on the signatories of the February 24, 2013, 
        Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for the Democratic 
        Republic of the Congo and the Region to abide by the provisions 
        outlined in the framework agreement in addition to ensuring 
        that those troops being re-integrated into the Congolese army 
        are not those accused of human rights violations;
            (3) calls on governments of the Great Lakes region of 
        Africa to respect the national security and territorial 
        integrity of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and to 
        immediately halt and prevent any and all forms of support to 
        the M23 and other non-state armed groups, including any support 
        provided by individuals independently of government policy;
            (4) recognizes the recent efforts by the Government of the 
        Democratic Republic of the Congo to end the recruitment of 
        children into the armed forces and demands the immediate 
        cessation of the recruitment and exploitation of children by 
        militias, and further calls on all armed groups to free 
        children and other civilians held against their will;
            (5) calls on the Obama Administration, in close 
        coordination with international and regional partners, to 
        mobilize a comprehensive response to prevent further 
        deterioration of regional peace and stability and to ensure 
        that life-saving humanitarian assistance be unhindered and 
        provided to populations in need, particularly displaced persons 
        and conflict-affected communities;
            (6) acknowledges the good work of the United States Special 
        Advisor on the Great Lakes and the Democratic Republic of the 
        Congo, and finds that the challenges of helping to resolve the 
        cycle of violence and impunity in the Democratic Republic of 
        the Congo requires higher-level United States diplomatic and 
        political engagement;
            (7) requests that Secretary of State John Kerry demonstrate 
        the high-level concern that the United States attaches to 
        ensuring stability and security in the Democratic Republic of 
        the Congo by appointing a Special Envoy who will help lead the 
        United States and international efforts to end the M23 conflict 
        and secure permanent peace, stability, and safety for the 
        people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo;
            (8) calls on all nations to increase cooperation in order 
        to cease the trade of illegal goods, including poached ivory 
        and conflict minerals, that continues to fuel violence in the 
        Democratic Republic of the Congo;
            (9) calls on the Obama Administration, including the 
        Atrocities Prevention Board, in close coordination with 
        international and regional partners, to develop and make 
        actionable recommendations to address, prevent, and ensure 
        accountability for serious violations of international 
        humanitarian law and human rights abuses by all actors in the 
        Democratic Republic of the Congo, including by fully 
        implementing sanctions outlined in section 1284 of the National 
        Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013, notwithstanding 
        transactions that are customary, necessary, and incidental to 
        the provision of critical, life-saving aid to civilian 
        populations, and the policy goals set out under the Democratic 
        Republic of the Congo Relief, Security, and Democracy Promotion 
        Act of 2006, introduced by then-Senator Barack Obama;
            (10) urges the Government of the Democratic Republic of the 
        Congo, with close support from the international community, to 
        investigate and prosecute those who have committed war crimes, 
        crimes against humanity, and violations of international 
        humanitarian law and human rights, including those against 
        women and children;
            (11) calls on the Government of the Democratic Republic of 
        the Congo to meaningfully engage in electoral reforms, in 
        addition to security sector reforms to prevent militia 
        combatants, particularly M23 members, accused of abuses from 
        integrating into the military, and to host inclusive inter-
        Congolese dialogues to address critical internal political 
        issues and strengthen processes of state institution building 
        in the Democratic Republic of the Congo;
            (12) urges the Obama Administration to address alleged 
        support for militias operating in the Democratic Republic of 
        the Congo from foreign governments or entities;
            (13) acknowledges the United Nations' appointment of the 
        Special Envoy for the Great Lakes region of Africa; and
            (14) urges the United Nations Security Council to lead 
        efforts to reinforce and strengthen the United Nations 
        Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic 
        of the Congo (MONUSCO) and its capacity to protect civilians, 
        including preventing any future M23 advances on Goma, as 
        evidenced by the temporary seizure of Goma and other areas, and 
        to support measures to strengthen the ability of MONUSCO to 
        help ensure peace and security in the future.
                                 <all>