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Genocide Accountability Act of 2007

On December 5, 2007, the House passed the Genocide Accountability Act of 2007, S.888.  This bill closes a legal loophole that prevents the United States Department of Justice from prosecuting people in our country who have committed genocide abroad.  This legislation was signed into law on December 21, 2007.

Under current law, the United States cannot prosecute foreign nationals suspected of genocide that are living in our country.  The Justice Department has identified individuals who had an active role in the Rwandan and Bosnian genocides living in the United States under false pretenses.  They are unable to interview or charge any of these individuals because they lack jurisdictional rights.  

The Genocide Accountability Act of 2007 has been endorsed by numerous organizations including Africa Action, the American Jewish World Service, Amnesty International USA, the Armenian Assembly of America, the Armenian National Committee of America, the Genocide Intervention Network, Human Rights First, Human Rights Watch, Physicians for Human Rights, Refugees International, and the Save Darfur Coalition.

Learn more about the 110th Congress’ work to stop genocide and protect human rights at home and abroad>>

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