UN Human Rights Council ready for another session on Syria

The UN Human Rights Council is gearing up to hold another session to consider the developments and state of affairs in Syria, to be held Monday, after the call for the session was made by the US and the European Union and received support of countires including Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan. This would be the second Human Rights Council session on Syria; the first back on April 29 had resulted in a resolution condemning Syrian authorities' use of excessive force against peaceful protestors and their impeding of arrival and distribution of medical aid. The resolution had called for a commission be formed and a team be sent to Syria to consider suspected violations of international human rights law and to ascertain all facts and details regarding any such crimes. The resolution also called the Syrian authorities to cooperate with the special rapporteurs, honor their duty to protect civilians, and put an immediate end to all violations. It also called for respect of all freedoms of protestors, including freedom of opinion and of assembly. There was also a demand of immediate release of prisoners of conscience and those held in arbitrary incarceration, including those arrested before the ongoing unrest, as well as a demand of an immediate stop to intimidation, persecution, and arbitrary arrests. The Human Rights Council urged Syria to refrain from acts of vengeance against those who took part in the protests and to allow agencies to provide the urgently needed humanitarian relief. There was also a clear demand that Syria conduct an inquiry of international standards to look into violations and to hold those responsible accountable, including those working for the government.