Situation of human rights in the Syrian Arab Republic

Condemnatory

Yes

Analysis

• This resolution strongly condemns the Syrian regime of Bashar Assad for serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law, some of which may amount to war crimes, and crimes against humanity, including the use of chemical weapons and attacks on civilians.
• The resolution does not address the recent ouster of Assad by jihadi rebels. However, it condemns violations by all parties in Syria, including Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the group that seized power in Syria in early December, which is designated as a terrorist group by the UN Security Council.
• The resolution contains no praise.

Main Sponsors

United States, Qatar

Vote

Yes - 90, No - 12, Abstain - 75, Absent - 16

See Full Vote

Key Praise

None

Key Criticism

• "Strongly condemns the systematic, widespread and gross violations and abuses of international human rights law and violations of international humanitarian law committed in the Syrian Arab Republic and the indiscriminate and disproportionate attacks against the civilian population and against civilian infrastructure…"
• "Deplores and condemns in the strongest terms the continued armed violence by the Syrian regime against the Syrian people since the beginning of the peaceful protests in 2011, and demands that the Syrian regime immediately put an end to all attacks against civilians…"
• "Strongly condemns the use of chemical weapons in the Syrian Arab Republic, demands that all parties desist from any use or preparation of chemical weapons in the Syrian Arab Republic…"
• "Deplores and condemns in the strongest terms the continued widespread and systematic gross violations and abuses of human rights and fundamental freedoms, including those of women and children, and all violations of international humanitarian law by the Syrian regime…"
• "Condemns unequivocally all attacks and violence against journalists and media workers by the Syrian regime…"
• "Strongly condemns all violations and abuses of human rights and all violations of international humanitarian law, including the killing and persecution of individuals and members of communities on the basis of their religion or belief, by armed non-State actors…"
• "Deplores and strongly condemns the terrorist acts and violence committed against civilians by ISIL (also known as Da’esh), Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (formerly known as the Nusrah Front), Al-Qaida-affiliated terrorist groups, other terrorist groups, such as Hurras al-Din, designated by the Security Council and other violent extremist groups…"
• "Demands that the Syrian regime and all other parties to the conflict allow and facilitate safe, full, rapid, immediate, unhindered and sustained humanitarian access, including through the continuation of cross-border assistance."
• "Strongly condemns the persistent and widespread use of sexual and gender-based violence, abuse and exploitation, such as in government detention centres…"
• "Also strongly condemns all violations and abuses committed against children in contravention of applicable international law…"
• "Demands that all parties immediately put an end to all violations of international human rights law, abuses of human rights and violations of international humanitarian law…"