UK presents human rights’ draft resolution on Syria, Damascus rejects
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Simon Manley, UK Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva, presented yesterday a draft resolution on the human rights situation in Syria that the Syrian government rejected describing it as “a model of the politicized resolutions.”
Manley delivered the statement on behalf of a cross-regional Core Group of France, Germany, Italy, Jordan, Kuwait, the Netherlands, Qatar, Turkey, the USA, and the UK on human rights situation in Syria during the 49th session of the Human Rights Council.
Speaking of the Russian-Ukrainian war and the atrocities committed against Ukrainians, Manley said, “this should remind us that the people living in Syria have seen similar attacks for over a decade.”
“As the Commission of Inquiry said so succinctly – The horrors of the conflict have left no Syrian family untouched,” he added.
He expressed deep concerns about the Syrian people stressing, “you [Syrians] are not forgotten.”
“This draft resolution focuses on key violations and abuses happening across the country,”
“This council needs to address this tragic situation.”
As Manley urged all members of the Council to vote in favor of it, Syria’s permanent representative to the United Nations Office and International Organizations in Geneva, Ambassador Houssam al-Din Ala urged them to vote against it.
In a statement, yesterday, Ala reiterated Syria’s rejection of the British draft resolution saying, it entitled “Situation of human rights in Syria presented by Britain is a model for politicized decisions that contradict the principles of universality, objectivity and non-selectivity on which the Human Rights Council is based.”
He added that the conclusions of the draft resolution are based on the reports of the so-called International Commission of Inquiry.
He noted that the commission of Inquiry proved its failure in adopting an objective and independent approach to the situation in Syria to serve the interests and objectives of the countries sponsoring its mandate, according to official Syrian news agency SANA.