The Escalating Grave Human Rights Violations and Deteriorating Humanitarian Situation in the Syrian Arab Republic

A/HRC/RES/19/1View PDF

Who adopted this document and its mandates?

A Resolution of the Human Rights Council, under agenda item 1 Organizational and procedural matters, published in 2012.

What subjects does this mandate have?

13 subjects

Armed Forces Civilian Persons Crimes Against Humanity Human Rights Human Rights Violations Humanitarian Emergencies Humanitarian Intervention Massacres Political Violence Protest Movements Refugees State Responsibility Syrian Arab Republic

What’s in this document?

8 operative paragraphs

Strongly condemns the continued widespread and systematic violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms by the Syrian authorities, such as the use of force against civilians, arbitrary executions, the killing and persecution of protestors, human rights defenders and journalists, including recent deaths of Syrian and foreign journalists, arbitrary detention, enforced disappearances, interference with access to medical treatment, torture, sexual violence and ill-treatment, including against children;

Deplores the brutal actions of the Syrian regime over the past 11 months, such as its use of heavy artillery and tanks to attack residential areas of cities and towns, which have led to the death of thousands of innocents civilians, caused widespread destruction, forced tens of thousands of Syrians to flee their homes and created widespread suffering among the Syrian people, resulting in a humanitarian crisis;

Expresses strong concern at the humanitarian situation in the Syrian Arab Republic, including the lack of access to basic food, medicine and fuel, as well as threats to and acts of violence against medical staff, patients and facilities;

Reiterates the need to urgently address humanitarian needs, to facilitate the effective delivery of assistance and to ensure safe access to medical treatment;

Calls upon the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic to immediately put an end to all human rights violations and attacks against civilians, to cease all violence, to allow free and unimpeded access by the United Nations and humanitarian agencies to carry out a full assessment of needs in Homs and other areas, and to permit humanitarian agencies to deliver vital relief goods and services to all civilians affected by the violence, especially in Homs, Dar’a, Zabadani and other areas under siege by the Syrian security forces;

Stresses the importance of ensuring accountability and the need to end impunity and hold to account those responsible for human rights violations, including those violations that may amount to crimes against humanity;

Acknowledges the serious and growing burden carried by the neighbours of the Syrian Arab Republic in hosting refugees from the Syrian Arab Republic and committed to provide appropriate support and assistance in this regard;

Decides to remain seized of the matter and to take further action on the situation of human rights in the Syrian Arab Republic, including after the forthcoming interactive dialogue with the commission of inquiry.

Reissued for technical reasons on 1 May 2012.

The resolutions and decisions adopted by the Human Rights Council will be contained in the report of the Council on its nineteenth session (A/HRC/19/2), chap. I.

Who adopted this document and its mandates?

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