UN General Assembly approves 13th resolution on Syria

August 03, 2012

The UN General Assembly has approved the 13th resolution on Syria. Brazil and another 132 countries voted in favor, while 31 abstained and 12 voted against – including Russia and China, who have vetoed any coercive measure in the Security Council, even though none of the proposals call for the use of force.

The main points of the approved resolution are: for the Syrian regime to “strictly” observe its obligations under international law with respect to chemical and biological weapons; for the Security Council to take measures to hold the perpetrators of human rights violations and crimes against humanity responsible; and for the unrestricted and safe access of humanitarian aid teams. The Assembly, in the preamble to the resolution, also deplored the deadlock in the Security Council.

As far as Conectas is concerned, the case should be referred immediately to the International Criminal Court (ICC), an arms embargo should be imposed on the country, targeted sanctions should be placed on the regime’s senior officials and all sides should respect human rights and humanitarian law.

Since the start of the crisis, more than 15,000 people have died and there are nearly 1.5 million displaced people and refugees in the country. The resolution will only be effective if it is actually put into practice. And this is the responsibility of the international community which failed repeatedly, making the victims a secondary priority.