HRC53: Human Rights Situation in Syria 13 July 2023
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Statements | OHCHR , UNOG

HRC 53: Resolution on human rights situation in Syria - 13 July 2023

  • Statement on the human rights situation in the Syrian Arab Republic. As delivered by the UK's Ambassador to the WTO and UN, Simon Manley. See attached PDF.

 

  • Statements of Representatives of:
    • Belgium
    • USA
    • France
    • Syria
    • Cuba
    • China

 

  • Vote: adoption of the resolution L16

The Human Rights Council this morning adopted a resolution on the situation of human rights in the Syrian Arab Republic. 

On the situation of human rights in the Syrian Arab Republic, the Council adopted by a vote of 24 in favour, 4 against and 18 abstentions a resolution in which it demanded that the Syrian Arab Republic meet its responsibility to respect and protect the human rights of all persons within its jurisdiction in a manner consistent with the applicable international law obligations of the Syrian Arab Republic.  The Council also demanded that all parties to the conflict respect the human rights of all persons.

In a resolution (A/HRC/53/L.16) on the Situation of human rights in the Syrian Arab Republic, adopted by a vote of 24 in favour, 4 against and 18 abstentions, the Council demands that the Syrian Arab Republic meet its responsibility to respect and protect the human rights of all persons within its jurisdiction in a manner consistent with the applicable international law obligations of the Syrian Arab Republic; calls upon the Syrian authorities to protect returning refugees and internally displaced persons from human rights violations and abuses and to help create the conditions necessary for the return of refugees; demands that the processes for reclaiming property required by authorities throughout the Syrian Arab Republic, predominantly the regime, comply with the principles on housing and property restitution for refugees and displaced persons and are equally accessible, in particular for women; calls upon all parties to the conflict, first and foremost the Syrian authorities, to release immediately all persons subjected to enforced disappearance in the Syrian Arab Republic and to provide accurate information to the families of those who are missing regarding their fate and whereabouts; calls upon all parties to the conflict to adopt a more effective response to sexual and gender-based violence across the whole of the Syrian Arab Republic; condemns restrictions imposed on journalists and civil society throughout the Syrian Arab Republic; demands that all parties to the conflict respect the human rights of all persons, including their right to life, liberty and security of person and rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, association and movement, without discrimination; and decides to remain seized of the matter.

The results of the vote were as follows:

In favour (24): Argentina, Belgium, Benin, Chile, Costa Rica, Cote d’Ivoire, Czechia, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Honduras, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Mexico, Montenegro, Paraguay, Qatar, Romania, Ukraine, United Kingdom and United States.

Against (4): Bolivia, China, Cuba and Eritrea.

Abstentions (18): Algeria, Bangladesh, Cameroon, Gambia, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Morocco, Nepal, Pakistan, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan and Viet Nam.

 

Teleprompter
So we will now consider the draught Proposal L16 situation of human rights in the Syrian Arab Republic, and let me give the floor to the United Kingdom.
[Other language spoken]
President, I have the great honour to present draught Resolution L 16 on the human rights situation in the Syrian Arab Republic on behalf of France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Qatar, Turkey, the United States of America and the United Kingdom.
[Other language spoken]
President, as we conclude this four week long session of this Council, let me begin by drawing attention to the fact that during this time a number of targeted strikes on civilians in Syria have sadly taken place.
The targets were villages, towns, markets.
The victims were innocent men, women, children.
The perpetrators were the Syrian regime and its allies.
This violence inflicted on the Syrian people is sadly all too familiar, as is the continued use of arbitrary detention, torture, enforced disappearances and sexual and gender based violence.
With 80 percent, 80% of the population dependent on humanitarian assistance, any uncertainty around humanitarian access is a further form of torment.
In our resolution before us, we highlight the plight of women and girls in Syria and their inability to exercise so many of their economic, social and political rights.
This conflict has left many women as the breadwinners for their families within a legal framework and a culture that discriminates against them.
Rights to property, to inheritance and even custody of children are often not accessible to women in the absence of male family members who have been killed or are missing.
Lack of equality before the law and protection against violence in a conflict that has left over 7 million Syrians, overwhelmingly women and girls, in need of services related to sexual and gender based violence is cruelty in the extreme.
[Other language spoken]
President, the resolution that we put forward today condemns the targeting of women and girls in Syria, whether through discriminatory laws and practises, sexual and gender based violence or restrictions imposed upon women who speak out in the face of multiple injustices.
The resolution welcomes the decision to establish the independent Institution on Missing persons to resolve the fate of the missing in Syria, a protracted issue that has had a unique impact on women and girls.
It also highlights the vital role Syrian women continue to play in the pursuit of justice, of accountability and of peace, often in the face of harassment, intimidation and fears for their own safety.
[Other language spoken]
President, let me thank all those who have engaged constructively in informal consultations on this resolution.
[Other language spoken]
President, when the Syrian regime is looking for allies, it's important that this Council adopts this resolution to continue our efforts to hold that regime to account for its crimes.
If a vote is called on this resolution, let me urge our fellow members of this Council to vote in favour.
Thank you very much.
[Other language spoken]
There are seven additional Co sponsors and let me open the floor for general comments.
Belgium you have the floor, Mr.
[Other language spoken]
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[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
United States of America, there's the floor.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
The United States strongly supports the resolution on the human rights situation in Syria, and as a member of the Core group, we are grateful for the productive engagement of Member States in the negotiations.
This resolution, reflecting reporting from the Commission of Inquiry, describes the horrific situation Syrian refugees face when they return to the country.
Reported abuses and other mistreatment include torture, unjust attention, forced disappearance, forced conscription, ****, and confiscation of property.
As the COI underscored in its latest report, women returnees are uniquely vulnerable given the discriminatory nature of Syria's laws.
We reiterate the the call for the regime to immediately release all those arbitrarily detained.
We must press the Assad regime to create the conditions for safe, voluntary, and dignified returns of refugees.
We express our gratitude to the countries that have generously hosted millions of refugees, while noting that they must refrain from prematurely pressing refugees to return.
The resolution urges all states to respect the principle of non refoulement.
We thank the COI for its valuable documentation and advocacy to address the fate of the missing and detained in Syria, which remains a painful and unresolved personal tragedy for scores of Syrian families.
We join the Co sponsors in welcoming the UN General Assembly vote to create an independent institution on missing persons in Syria and we concur with the UN Secretary General that measures to address the missing must be coherent, inclusive and victim centred.
We call on all parties to the conflict to work with and collaborate with the institution in good faith to get families the answers that they deserve.
We urge governments to support the new institution, including through voluntary financial support, so it can immediately start its efforts.
This issue has implications for nearly every Syrian family.
the United States commends Syrian civil society, including women LED groups and family associations who are the driving force behind the establishment of the new UN institution on missing persons in Syria.
We stand with Syrian families.
They deserve to know the truth about their missing loved ones.
We are all Council members to support the resolution before us today.
[Other language spoken]
Thank you, France.
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[Other language spoken]
I don't have any other request for the floor at this point, so let me invite concerned country.
The delegation of Syria, please.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
At the outset, we renew our commitment as a founding member of the United Nations to respect this Council.
Therefore, we will not use in our statement the style of theatrical and irresponsible rhetoric that the delegation of UKUS, France and some of their affiliated countries have always used.
The logic of these countries is the logic of chaos, coercion and force, and it's not the logic of diplomacy, dialogue and resolving this.
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[Other language spoken]
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[Other language spoken]
There are no PBIS.
And let us move to the explanations of votes before the vote.
Cuba, you have the floor.
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
[Other language spoken]
Is there another request for the floor?
At this point it's not the case.
So, at the request of the delegation of Cuba, the Council will now proceed to a recorded vote on draught Proposal L16.
And let me ask the Secretariat to open the voting machine and please register your votes.
May I ask you please to check if your vote is accurately reflected on the screen?
And if so, I ask the Secretary to close the voting machine and the voting is now closed.
The results of the recorded votes are as follows.
24 in favour for against and 18 abstentions.
The draught proposal, L 16, is therefore adopted.