Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Houthi Human Rights Accountability Act”.
Houthi Human Rights Accountability Act
A BILL
To authorize the imposition of sanctions with respect to the Houthis, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Sense of Congress
It is the sense of Congress that—
Houthi efforts to indoctrinate Yemenis into a violent, anti-Semitic, and extremist worldview are a threat to a Yemeni-led peace process and to regional stability; and
it is counter to United States policy to provide support to the Houthis in Yemen, including by supporting any efforts by the Houthis to indoctrinate, coerce, or force Yemenis to conform to their violent, anti-Semitic, and extremist worldview.
Sec. 3 Report on Houthi indoctrination
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on—
Houthi efforts to indoctrinate Yemenis into a violent, anti-Semitic, or extremist worldview; and
the long-term threat this indoctrination campaign poses to regional stability.
Sec. 4 Report on obstacles to provision of humanitarian aid in areas of Yemen under de facto Houthi control
In general— Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on obstacles to the provision of humanitarian aid by international organizations and nongovernmental organizations in areas of Yemen under de facto Houthi control.
Matters To be included— The report required by subsection (a) shall include the following:
An identification of challenges to distribution of humanitarian aid created by Houthi-enforced rules, regulations, and bureaucracy with respect to access, and freedom of movement, and the overall impact on such rules, regulations, and bureaucracy have on the international community’s ability to distribute such aid in a manner consistent with basic humanitarian principles.
An assessment of attempted Houthi interference in the delivery of humanitarian aid, including the manipulation or undue influence of beneficiary lists or related data for political or military purposes, and the implications of any interference on civilian needs and aid distribution.
An evaluation of the Houthis’ use of violence and intimidation against humanitarian workers and diplomats, including current and former United States Embassy locally employed staff.
An overview of the steps the United States and its partners are taking to ensure humanitarian assistance is delivered unhindered and consistent with basic humanitarian principles, including how United States-supported organizations respond to attempted Houthi diversion or interference.
Scope— The report required by subsection (a) shall address the period beginning on January 1, 2020, and ending on the date that is 90 days after date of the enactment of this Act.
Sec. 5 Report on human rights abuses committed by the Houthis
In general— Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on human rights abuses committed by the Houthis, including gender-based discrimination and violence, including—
Mahram regulations;
the recruitment and use of child soldiers;
enforced disappearance;
prolonged and arbitrary detention;
conduct that amounts to torture; and
unlawful killing.
Scope— The report required by subsection (a) shall address the period beginning on March 1, 2015, and ending on the date that is 90 days after date of the enactment of this Act.
Sec. 6 Sanctions authorized under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights and Accountability Act
In general— Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a determination on whether foreign persons described in subsection (b) meet the criteria for sanctions authorized under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights and Accountability Act (subtitle F of title XII of Public Law 114–328; 22 U.S.C. 2656 note) or are responsible for acts that constitute gross violations of internationally recognized human rights (as defined in section 502B(d)(1) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2304(d)(1))).
Persons described— A foreign person described in this subsection is a foreign person that—
is a member of the Houthis; and
knowingly—
imposes unlawful restrictions on the delivery of humanitarian assistance in Yemen; or
engages in the human rights abuses described in section 5(a).
Sec. 7 Sanctions authorized under the Robert Levinson Hostage Taking and Accountability Act
In general— Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a determination on whether foreign persons described in subsection (b) meet the criteria for sanctions authorized under the Robert Levinson Hostage Recovery and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act (22 U.S.C. 1741 et seq.), and Executive Order 14078 (22 U.S.C. 1741 note prec.; relating to bolstering efforts to bring hostages and wrongfully detained United States nationals home).
Persons described— A foreign person described in this subsection is a foreign person that—
is a member of the Houthis; and
is responsible for or is complicit in, or responsible for ordering, controlling, or otherwise directing, the hostage taking of a United States national abroad or the unlawful or wrongful detention of a United States national abroad; or
knowingly provides financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services in support of, an activity described in subparagraph (A).
Sec. 8 Sunset
This Act shall terminate on the date that is 5 years after the date of the enactment of this Act.
Sec. 9 Definitions
In this Act—
the term appropriate congressional committees means—
the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate;
the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate;
the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives; and
the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives;
the term foreign person means a person that is not a United States person;
the term Houthis refers to persons officially known as “Ansarallah”;
the term person means and individual or entity; and
the term United States person means—
a national of the United States;
an alien who is lawfully present in the United States; or
an entity organized under the laws of the United States or of any jurisdiction within the United States, including a foreign branch of such an entity.