Kuwait preparing UNHRC draft condemning violations in Syria

The Kuwaiti permanent delegation here is working effortlessly alongside the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) to formulate a resolution that would condemn the severe violations committed against civilians in Syrian. The draft-resolution, which is backed by Qatar, Turkey, the US, and Britain, strongly condemned the intervention of all foreign combatants in Syria, including those fighting on behalf of the regime and in particular Hezbollah. The draft-paper, obtained by KUNA, also expressed deep concern that foreign fighters involvement would further lead to the deteriorating humanitarian situation, which has a serious negative impact on the region. The paper stressed the need to follow-up on the report of the UNHRC's of inquiry and to conduct an international and independent investigation into all abuses and violations of international law committed by all parties with a view to hold to account those responsible for violations and abuses, including those that may amount to crimes against humanity and war crimes. It encouraged members of the international community to ensure that there was no impunity for such violations or abuses, stressing that the Syrian authorities have failed to prosecute alleged perpetrators of serious violations that may amount to crimes against humanity. The draft-resolution demanded that the Syrian authorities meet their responsibility to protect the population and deplored the further deterioration of the humanitarian situation and the failure to ensure the safe and timely provision of humanitarian assistance to all areas affected by the fighting. The Syrian people should determine, within the framework provided by international law, the process and mechanisms to achieve justice, reconciliation, truth and accountability for gross violations, as well as reparations and effective remedies for victims, while underlining the relevance of referrals to the appropriate international criminal justice mechanism under appropriate circumstances. The draft-paper expressed deep concern at the growing number of refugees and internally displaced persons fleeing the violence, and welcomed the efforts by neighbouring countries hosting Syrian refugees, while acknowledging the socioeconomic consequences of the presence of large-scale refugee populations in these countries. It noted the request made by the General Assembly to the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced people to submit a written report on the very dire situation of internally displaced people in Syrian, and invited the Special Rapporteur to present that report to the Council at its 24th session. The draft-paper welcomed the statement of the Syrian opposition coalition on access to opposition-controlled areas, and called on the opposition to cooperate with the commission to assist it in exercising its mission and fulfilling its mandate in Syrian. It urged the international community to provide urgent financial support to the countries hosting Syrian refugees to enable them to respond to the growing humanitarian needs of the refugees, while emphasizing the principle of burden-sharing. All relevant United Nations agencies, in particular the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and other international organizations, and donor states are welcomed to provide urgent and more support to Syrian refugees and their host countries, said the paper. The paper demanded that the Syrian authorities facilitate the access of humanitarian organizations to all people in need through the most efficient routes, including by providing authorization for cross-border humanitarian operations as an urgent priority.