The Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR) said that Russia and China’s use of the veto 16 times on the UN Security Council contributed to the death of about a quarter of a million Syrians and the detention of about 150,000 others. It decried the failure of the Security Council to protect civilians and maintain peace and security in Syria.
In a report issued on Friday, the Network pointed out that the Assad regime did not abide by any of the UN Security Council resolutions on Syria, especially resolutions 2042, 2043, and resolution 2139 calling for an end to indiscriminate attacks and enforced disappearance, in addition to resolutions on the use of chemical weapons, namely resolutions 2118, 2209, and 2235.
The report indicated that the Assad regime used chemical weapons 21 times between February 28, 2017 and May 19, 2019.
The rights group stressed that the most harmful use of the veto by Russia and China was aimed at shielding the regime from punishment for its use of chemical weapons, thus undermining the UN Security Council’s mission to maintain international peace and security.
Russia and China also has also most recently used the veto to prevent the introduction of international aid for more than four million displaced people inside Syria, the SNHR added.
The Network called on Russia and China to stop such use of the veto as the Assad regime is involved in crimes against humanity in Syria, calling for material and moral compensation for the victims of the disastrous, repeated use of the veto. (Source: SOC’s Media Department)
