A/HRC/RES/37/29
Welcoming Security Council resolution 2336 (2016) of 31 December 2016, and
noting the ongoing work on de-escalation areas, hoping that these will lead to a sustained
reduction in violence as a step towards a comprehensive nationwide ceasefire, and
emphasizing that humanitarian access must be part of such efforts,
Recalling that, pursuant to Security Council resolution 2165 (2014) of 14 July 2014,
all Syrian parties to the conflict are to enable the immediate and unhindered delivery of
humanitarian assistance, and stressing that the arbitrary denial of humanitarian access,
depriving civilians of objects and assistance indispensable to their survival, including
wilfully impeding relief supplies, such as food aid and life-saving medical supplies, may
constitute a war crime,
Recalling also 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,
Recalling further that deliberate attacks on civilians and civilian objects, such as
schools and educational facilities, cultural heritage and places of worship, as well as
medical facilities and personnel, may amount to war crimes,
Reaffirming that the use of chemical weapons constitutes a serious violation of
international law, and reiterating that all those responsible for any use of chemical weapons
must be held accountable,
Regretting that the mandate of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical
Weapons-United Nations Joint Investigative Mechanism has not been renewed,
Expressing its deepest concern at the findings of the Independent International
Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic,
Deploring the lack of cooperation by the Syrian authorities with the Commission of
Inquiry,
Acknowledging the ongoing efforts of human rights defenders active in the Syrian
Arab Republic to document violations and abuses of international human rights law and
violations of international humanitarian law, despite grave risks,
Deploring the fact that the conflict in the Syrian Arab Republic continues into its
eighth year, and the subsequent devastating impact on the enjoyment of human rights in the
Syrian Arab Republic,
1.
Welcomes and calls for the full and immediate implementation of Security
Council resolution 2401 (2018) of 24 February 2018, in which the Council demanded that
all parties cease hostilities without delay for at least 30 consecutive days to allow the safe,
unimpeded and sustained delivery of humanitarian aid and services and medical
evacuations of the critically sick and wounded, in accordance with applicable international
law;
2.
Calls upon all Member States, especially members of the International Syria
Support Group, to make renewed efforts to create conditions, including a comprehensive
nationwide ceasefire, that support continued negotiations for a political solution to the
Syrian conflict, under the auspices of the United Nations Office at Geneva, as only a
durable political solution to the conflict can bring an end to the systematic, widespread and
gross violations and abuses of international human rights law and violations of international
humanitarian law;
3.
Urges the parties to the conflict to abstain from any actions that may
contribute to the continuing deterioration of the human rights, security and humanitarian
situations in order to reach a genuine political transition based on the Geneva communiqué,
consistent with Security Council resolutions 2254 (2015) and 2268 (2016), and with the full
and meaningful leadership and participation of women in all efforts consistent with
Security Council resolution 1325 (2000) of 31 October 2000 and subsequent resolutions on
women, peace and security, that meets the legitimate aspirations of the Syrian people for a
civil, democratic and pluralistic State, in which all citizens receive equal protection,
regardless of gender, religion or ethnicity;
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