A/HRC/RES/23/26
civil, democratic and pluralistic State, where all citizens are equal regardless of gender,
religion and ethnicity, and demands in this regard that all Syrian parties work with the Joint
Special Representative to implement rapidly the transition plan set forth in the final
communiqué issued by the Action Group for Syria on 30 June 2012,
Recalling the statements made by the United Nations High Commissioner for
Human Rights before the Human Rights Council and the Security Council and by the
special procedures of the Human Rights Council that crimes against humanity are likely to
have been committed in the Syrian Arab Republic, and noting the repeated encouragement
by the High Commissioner to the Security Council to refer the situation to the International
Criminal Court,
1.
Welcomes the report of the independent international commission of inquiry
on the Syrian Arab Republic submitted pursuant to Human Rights Council resolution 22/24
of 22 March 2013;1
2.
Condemns the lack of cooperation of the Government of the Syrian Arab
Republic with the commission of inquiry, in particular the persistent denial of access to
members of the commission to the Syrian Arab Republic;
3.
Notes with concern that the lack of access by the commission of inquiry to
the Syrian Arab Republic continues to hamper the commission’s ability to fulfil its
mandate, and stresses in this regard the need to collect evidence directly from all of the
Syrian Arab Republic;
4.
Demands that the Syrian authorities cooperate fully with the commission of
inquiry, including by granting it immediate, full and unfettered access throughout the
Syrian Arab Republic and responding promptly to its communications and requests;
5.
Acknowledges the statement of the Syrian opposition coalition of 5 June 2013
to cooperate with the commission of inquiry, including in opposition-controlled areas, and
calls on the opposition to assist the commission of inquiry in the fulfilment of its mandate;
6.
Condemns all violence, especially against civilians, irrespective of where it
comes from, including terrorist acts and acts of violence that may foment sectarian tensions,
and demands that all parties put an immediate end to all forms of violence and comply
strictly with their obligations under international law, including international humanitarian
law;
7.
Urges all parties to the conflict to refrain from any actions that may
contribute to the escalation of violations of human rights or international humanitarian law;
8.
Strongly condemns the continued widespread and systematic gross violations
of human rights and fundamental freedoms and all violations of international humanitarian
law by the Syrian authorities and the government-affiliated Shabbiha militias, as well as
any human rights abuses and violations of international humanitarian law by armed
oppositions groups, while noting that the commission of inquiry stated in its report that
abuses and violations committed by anti-Government armed groups did not reach the
intensity and scale of the violations committed by government forces and its associated
militia;
9.
Condemns in the strongest terms all massacres taking place in the Syrian
Arab Republic, and stresses the need to hold those responsible to account;
1
2
A/HRC/23/58.