A/HRC/RES/45/21
United Nations
General Assembly
Distr.: General
12 October 2020
Original: English
Human Rights Council
Forty-fifth session
14 September–7 October 2020
Agenda item 4
Human rights situations that require the Council’s attention
Resolution adopted by the Human Rights Council
on 6 October 2020
45/21.
Situation of human rights in the Syrian Arab Republic
The Human Rights Council,
Guided by the principles and purposes of the Charter of the United Nations,
Reaffirming its previous resolutions on the Syrian Arab Republic,
Condemning the grave situation of human rights across the Syrian Arab Republic, and
demanding that the Syrian authorities meet their responsibility to protect the Syrian
population and to respect, protect and fulfil the human rights of all persons within its
jurisdiction,
Noting that, under applicable international law, and in line with Security Council
resolution 2474 (2019) of 11 June 2019, parties to armed conflict bear the primary
responsibility to take all feasible measures to account for persons reported missing as a result
of hostilities, and to provide their family members with any information that the parties have
on their fate, and noting also that the Council in its resolution 2474 (2019) called upon parties
to the conflict to take steps to prevent people from going missing in armed conflict,
Recalling the statements made by the Secretary-General and the United Nations High
Commissioner for Human Rights that crimes against humanity and war crimes are likely to
have been committed in the Syrian Arab Republic,
Expressing its deepest concern at the findings of the Independent International
Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic, including in its most recent report,1
expressing support for the mandate of the Commission of Inquiry and deploring the lack of
cooperation by the Syrian authorities with the Commission of Inquiry,
Welcoming the work of the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism to
Assist in the Investigation and Prosecution of Persons Responsible for the Most Serious
Crimes under International Law Committed in the Syrian Arab Republic since March 2011, 2
and noting with appreciation the work of the United Nations Board of Inquiry,
1.
Deplores the situation of human rights in the Syrian Arab Republic and the fact
that the ongoing conflict continues to have a devastating impact on the civilian population,
1
2
A/HRC/45/31.
See A/74/699.
GE.20-13338(E)