The majority of the UN General Assembly Member States adopted a resolution strongly condemning the Assad regime’s violations of human rights in Syria.
A draft resolution on human rights in Syria would have the General Assembly “strongly condemn the indiscriminate and disproportionate attacks in civilian areas.”
The draft resolution, approved by a recorded vote of 106 in favor to 16 against, with 58 abstentions, would also demand that Syrian authorities “immediately end all attacks on their own people and take all precautions to avoid incidental loss of civilian life.”
The draft resolution strongly condemned the gross, systematic, widespread violations of international human rights law and humanitarian law taking place in Syria, calling for accountability for crimes committed during this conflict, including the use of chemical weapons.
The resolution also condemned in the strongest possible terms the Assad regime’s continued armed violence against the Syrian people since the beginning of the Syrian revolution in March 2011.
The resolution called on the Assad regime to “immediately end all attacks on its citizens and take all feasible precautions to avoid any incidental loss of civilian life.”
The UN resolution urged all Member States, in particular the members of the International Syria Support Group, to create the conditions for the resumption of the UN-led negotiations aimed at reaching a political solution by working towards a nationwide ceasefire and allowing full, safe, immediate humanitarian access.
The resolution condemned any use by any party to the conflict in Syria of any chemical weapons, such as chlorine, sarin and sulfur mustard.
Moreover, the draft resolution stressed that the development, production, acquisition, stockpiling, retention, transfer or use of chemical weapons anywhere or at any time by any party and in any circumstances is unacceptable and constitutes one of the most serious crimes under international law.
The resolution called for the Assad regime to fully honor its international obligations, including the duty to fully declare its chemical weapons program, with particular emphasis on the need for the regime to promptly address the flaws, inconsistencies and differences regarding its declaration with regards to the development, production, stockpiling and use of chemical weapons and on their destruction, and the complete elimination of its chemical weapons program.
The resolution also condemned all violations of human rights and international humanitarian law by non-state armed groups, including the Hezbollah militia and groups on the UN Security Council’s lists of terrorist entities. (Source: Syrian Coalition’s Media Department + Anadolu Agency)
