UN General Assembly Condemns Human Rights Abuses in Syria

Press Statement

Hadi al-Bahra

President of the Syrian Coalition

November 19, 2014

We welcome the vote by the UN General Assembly's Third Committee on a resolution condemning widespread human rights abuses in Syria. Rightly acknowledging that the bulk of human rights violations are committed by the Assad regime and ISIS, the resolution encourages “the Security Council to take appropriate action to ensure accountability, noting the important role that the International Criminal Court can play in this regard.”

It is time we stop the culture of impunity spreading in Syria and to refer Syria to the International Criminal Court. The victims of the bloody conflict in Syria deserve closure. UN Security Council permanent members have a moral obligation not to obstruct such a move.

Once the judicial process begins, a strong message will be sent to those in Syria perpetrating crimes that there will be consequences, which is crucial to stopping atrocities. As long as perpetrators of war crimes and crimes against humanity think they are immune to prosecution, the suffering of the Syrian people will continue.