Situation of human rights in the Syrian Arab Republic

Condemnatory

Yes

Analysis

• This resolution condemns violations by all parties in the conflict in Syria, and attributes many of the violations to the Syrian authorities. These include recruiting child soldiers, sexual and gender-based violence against women and girls, attacks on civilian objects, enforced disappearances, and torture.
• Syria strongly opposed the resolution.
• Moreover, the resolution was adopted under Item 4, the primary framework for addressing country-specific human rights situations, signaling criticism.

Main Sponsors

United Kingdom, France, Germany, Netherlands, Qatar, Turkey, United States

Vote

Yes - 26, No - 4, Abstain - 17, Absent - 0

See Full Vote

Key Praise

None

Key Criticism

• "Condemning the significant number of reports of abuses against children by the Syrian regime, including the targeting and torturing of children to punish them for their familial relationships, real or assumed, with political dissidents, members of the armed opposition and activist groups and the use of detained children to compel their parents and other relatives associated with opposition fighters to surrender…"
• "Noting with deep concern the findings of the Commission of Inquiry that children have suffered sexual and gender-based violence since the early days of the Syrian conflict, including children as young as 11 years old who were subjected to a range of forms of sexual and gender-based violence in regime detention facilities…"
• "Reiterating its deep concern at the situation of the tens of thousands of individuals, including children, who have been forcibly disappeared and those missing and detained in the Syrian Arab Republic, first and foremost by the Syrian regime…"
• "Strongly condemning the recurring attacks on students, teachers, schools and universities, the military use of educational facilities and the increasing trend of recruitment and use of children in the armed conflict in the Syrian Arab Republic, which impair the continued realization of the right to education in conflict situations and cause severe and long-lasting harm to individuals and societies..."
• "Strongly condemns all violations and abuses and the ongoing human rights situation, demands that all parties to the conflict immediately comply with their respective obligations under international humanitarian law and international human rights law…"
• "Condemns the attacks against civilian objects, such as schools, as reported by the Commission of Inquiry…"