Calling for the end of impunity of unpunished Serbian sexual war crimes during the 1999 Kosovo war in the case of United States citizen and sexual war crime survivor Vasfije Krasniqi Goodman and other survivors of sexual and gender-based violence.
- Bill Number
- H.Con.Res. 26
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- International Affairs
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-04-10: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
- Last Updated
- 2026-04-28T08:06:23Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose of the Legislation
This concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 26) expresses Congress's strong condemnation of unpunished sexual war crimes committed by Serbian forces during the 1999 Kosovo war. It focuses on the case of U.S. citizen Vasfije Krasniqi Goodman, a survivor of rape, and calls for justice for her and approximately 20,000 other victims of conflict-related sexual violence. The resolution aims to end impunity for these crimes, promote accountability, and urge governments to prioritize investigations and prosecutions.
Key Provisions Outlined
The resolution includes detailed background on Goodman's assault and the failures of various international and local mechanisms to deliver justice. It then resolves that Congress:
- Findings and Condemnations:
- Deems it unacceptable that no one has been held guilty for the crimes against Goodman.
- Strongly condemns rape and other sexual/gender-based violence as weapons of war.
- Emphasizes the need for transparent, independent investigations into such atrocities.
- Commendations and Calls to Action:
- Praises Kosovo's efforts to address wartime sexual violence, including establishing a Day of Survivors on April 14.
- Urges Kosovo to implement its "Protocol for the Treatment of Sexual Violence Cases" and expedite rape cases from the 1999 war.
- Demands that Serbia:
- Prosecute those responsible for Goodman's assault under UN Security Council Resolutions 1820 (condemning sexual violence in war) and 2467 (calling for ending impunity for war crimes).
- Stop protecting or glorifying war criminals and prioritize their investigation.
- Enforce laws against perpetrators of sexual violence.
- Create mechanisms to track, investigate, and extradite offenders to Kosovo for trial.
- Requests the U.S. Government to:
- Strengthen commitments to prevent gender-based violence globally.
- Raise Goodman's case in talks with Serbia, focusing on accountability for crimes against women and youth.
- Identify risks of gender-based violence and monitor Serbia's prosecution efforts.
- Fund education, research, advocacy, judicial training, and rehabilitation centers in Kosovo for war trauma and violence survivors, including job training.
Significant Changes to Existing Law Introduced
This is a concurrent resolution, which is a formal statement of Congress's opinion and does not create, amend, or repeal any laws. It has no binding legal force but serves as a symbolic call to action, building on existing international frameworks like UN resolutions without introducing new U.S. legal requirements.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: U.S. agencies like the State Department may face pressure to prioritize human rights in diplomacy with Serbia and Kosovo, potentially influencing funding for international aid and monitoring programs. Kosovo's judicial and law enforcement bodies could see increased focus on expediting cases.
- On Citizens: Survivors like Goodman and other victims may gain more visibility and support, including access to U.S.-funded rehabilitation and advocacy. It highlights the U.S.'s role in protecting its citizens abroad from historical injustices.
- On International Relations: Could strain U.S.-Serbia ties by demanding accountability and extraditions, while bolstering U.S.-Kosovo relations through commendations and aid. It reinforces global norms against sexual violence in conflict, aligning with UN efforts and potentially encouraging similar actions by allies like EU states.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Primary Victims: Vasfije Krasniqi Goodman and other survivors of sexual violence during the Kosovo war, including the estimated 20,000 affected individuals.
- Governments: Republic of Kosovo (judicial system, prosecutors); Republic of Serbia (law enforcement, foreign ministry); U.S. Government (Congress, State Department, funding agencies).
- International Bodies: UN (via Resolutions 1244, 1820, 2467); EULEX (EU Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo); NATO (KFOR); former mechanisms like the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia.
- Other Groups: Human rights organizations (e.g., Human Rights Watch), Kosovo Liberation Army affiliates, and local communities in Kosovo dealing with war legacies.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Reinforces international law by citing UN resolutions that classify sexual violence as potential war crimes or crimes against humanity. It calls for prosecutions under Kosovo's criminal code (e.g., Article 153 on war crimes) but notes past failures in courts like the Basic Court of Mitrovica and Supreme Court of Kosovo, highlighting gaps in transitional justice (the process of addressing crimes from conflicts).
- Constitutional: Falls within Congress's constitutional authority (Article I) to conduct foreign affairs through resolutions, without executive enforcement powers. It does not infringe on separation of powers but urges the executive branch to act.
- Political: Politically symbolic, it elevates gender-based violence as a U.S. foreign policy priority, potentially influencing bilateral negotiations (e.g., Serbia-Kosovo dialogue). Bipartisan sponsorship (from Democrats and Republicans) signals broad U.S. consensus on human rights, but it risks escalating tensions in the Balkans by directly criticizing Serbia's handling of war crimes.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (18)
Rep. Torres, Ritchie [D-NY-15], Rep. Veasey, Marc A. [D-TX-33], Rep. Latimer, George [D-NY-16], Rep. Omar, Ilhan [D-MN-5], Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-MA-2], Rep. Ocasio-Cortez, Alexandria [D-NY-14], Rep. Self, Keith [R-TX-3], Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17], Rep. Vargas, Juan [D-CA-52], Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9], Rep. Doggett, Lloyd [D-TX-37], Rep. Espaillat, Adriano [D-NY-13], Rep. Nunn, Zachary [R-IA-3], Rep. McCaul, Michael T. [R-TX-10], Rep. Levin, Mike [D-CA-49], Rep. McBride, Sarah [D-DE-At Large], Rep. Jackson, Jonathan L. [D-IL-1], Rep. Castro, Joaquin [D-TX-20]
Recent Actions
- 2025-04-10: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
- 2025-04-10: Submitted in House
- 2025-04-10: Submitted in House
Bill Versions
- Calling for the end of impunity of unpunished Serbian sexual war crimes during the 1999 Kosovo war in the case of United States citizen and sexual war crime survivor Vasfije Krasniqi Goodman and other survivors of sexual and gender-based violence. — issued 2025-04-10 — PDF (10 pages)