A/HRC/RES/23/1
United Nations
General Assembly
Distr.: General
19 June 2013
Original: English
Human Rights Council
Twenty-third session
Agenda item 1
Organizational and procedural matters
Resolution adopted by the Human Rights Council∗
23/1.
The deteriorating situation of human rights in the Syrian Arab
Republic, and the recent killings in Al-Qusayr
The Human Rights Council,
Guided by the Charter of the United Nations,
Having held an urgent debate to discuss the deteriorating situation of human rights
in the Syrian Arab Republic, and the recent killings in Al Qusayr, which is currently under
siege by the Syrian regime,
Recalling General Assembly resolutions 66/176 of 19 December 2011, 66/253 of 16
February 2012, 66/253B of 3 August 2012, 67/183 of 20 December 2012 and 67/262 of 15
May 2013, Human Rights Council resolutions S-16/1 of 29 April 2011, S-17/1 of 22
August 2011, S-18/1 of 2 December 2011, 19/1 of 1 March 2012, 19/22 of 23 March 2012,
20/22 of 6 July 2012, 21/26 of 28 September 2012 and 22/24 of 22 March 2013, and
Security Council resolutions 2042 (2012) of 14 April 2012 and 2043 (2012) of 21 April
2012,
Recalling the press release of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human
Rights on 10 May 2013, in which she expressed alarm at reports of major military build-up
around the western Syrian town of Al Qusayr, and stated that she feared further atrocities
and increasing displacement of the local civilian population,
Reaffirming its strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and
territorial integrity of the Syrian Arab Republic and to the principles of the Charter,
1.
Strongly condemns all violations of international humanitarian law and the
widespread and systematic gross violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms by
the Syrian authorities and the Government-affiliated militias, such as those violations
involving the regime’s use of ballistic missiles and other heavy weapons against civilians in
the Syrian Arab Republic, including against the people of Al Qusayr;
∗
GE.13-14873
The resolutions and decisions adopted by the Human Rights Council will be contained in the report of
the Council on its twenty-third session (A/HRC/23/2), chap. I.