One of the top human rights champions on Capitol Hill brought prominent activists together Oct. 6 to urge the United States and Iraq to protect civilians in the coming assault on Mosul.

Rep. James McGovern, D-Mass., the co-chairman of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, pulled the briefing together just weeks ahead of the expected battle to retake Iraq’s second-largest city from the Islamic State (IS). The briefing served as an urgent appeal to the Barack Obama administration to keep human rights and humanitarian needs top of mind as officials prepare for a conflagration that could displace a million people — and lay the groundwork for future conflict.

“I get it: Everyone’s all gung-ho about sending more American forces there, more military assistance, but here’s where there’s a shortfall,” McGovern told Al-Monitor after the hearing. “These are the people that we should be concerned about.”

The panel featured witnesses from Human Rights Watch, the International Rescue Committee, the Norwegian Refugee Council and the Center for Civilians in Conflict. McGovern said he agreed with all of their recommendations, and would pass them on to the Obama administration in a letter or memo.