Chinese envoy urges US to immediately lift Syria sanctions to return 'hope of survival' to children

Chinese envoy urges US to immediately lift Syria sanctions to return 'hope of survival' to children

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Chinese envoy urges immediate lifting of unilateral sanctions on Syria to return the "hope of survival" to children in the country as the US' long-arm jurisdiction has further exacerbated the earthquake disaster and hindered rescue efforts with more children's lives as the cost.  

Nearly a week since the most devastating earthquakes in recent history, the combined death toll in Turkey and Syria surpassed 38,000 while searches for signs of life in the rubble amid freezing temperatures continues.  

A UN official pointed out on Sunday in a post on Twitter that international help has "failed the people in northwest Syria," where more than 12 years of civil war have resulted in a complex political situation. ( Read the reporting on the Chinese statement about Syria).

This call for the lifting of unilateral sanctions on Syria comes after UN officials have made a similar demand.

UN Special Rapporteur on unilateral coercive measures and human rights Alena Douhan today urged sanctioning States to lift unilateral sanctions against Syria, warning that they were perpetuating and exacerbating the destruction and trauma suffered by the Syrian people since 2011. 

“I am struck by the pervasiveness of the human rights and humanitarian impact of the unilateral coercive measures imposed on Syria and the total economic and financial isolation of a country whose people are struggling to rebuild a life with dignity, following the decade-long war,” Douhan said.

In a statement following her 12-day visit to Syria, the Special Rapporteur presented detailed information about the catastrophic effects of unilateral sanctions across all walks of life in the country. (Read the reporting on the UN statement on sanctions).

UN expert calls for lifting of long-lasting unilateral sanctions ‘suffocating’ Syrian people

UN expert calls for lifting of long-lasting unilateral sanctions ‘suffocating’ Syrian people

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 DAMASCUS/GENEVA (10 November) – UN Special Rapporteur on unilateral coercive measures and human rights Alena Douhan today urged sanctioning States to lift unilateral sanctions against Syria, warning that they were perpetuating and exacerbating the destruction and trauma suffered by the Syrian people since 2011. 

“I am struck by the pervasiveness of the human rights and humanitarian impact of the unilateral coercive measures imposed on Syria and the total economic and financial isolation of a country whose people are struggling to rebuild a life with dignity, following the decade-long war,” Douhan said.

In a statement following her 12-day visit to Syria, the Special Rapporteur presented detailed information about the catastrophic effects of unilateral sanctions across all walks of life in the country.

Douhan said 90 per cent of Syria’s population was currently living below the poverty line, with limited access to food, water, electricity, shelter, cooking and heating fuel, transportation and healthcare and warned that the country was facing a massive brain-drain due to growing economic hardship.

“With more than half of the vital infrastructure either completely destroyed or severely damaged, the imposition of unilateral sanctions on key economic sectors, including oil, gas, electricity, trade, construction and engineering have quashed national income, and undermine efforts towards economic recovery and reconstruction.

The expert said blocking of payments and refusal of deliveries by foreign producers and banks, coupled with sanctions-induced limited foreign currency reserves have caused serious shortages in medicines and specialised medical equipment, particularly for chronic and rare diseases.  She warned that rehabilitation and development of water distribution networks for drinking and irrigation had stalled due to the unavailability of equipment and spare parts, creating serious public health and food security implications.

“In the current dramatic and still-deteriorating humanitarian situation as 12 million Syrians grapple with food insecurity, I urge the immediate lifting of all unilateral sanctions that severely harm human rights and prevent any efforts for early recovery, rebuilding and reconstruction,” Douhan said.

“No reference to good objectives of unilateral sanctions justifies the violation of fundamental human rights. The international community has an obligation of solidarity and assistance to the Syrian people.”

The Special Rapporteur also dealt with other issues showcasing the multifaceted negative impact of sanctions, including international cooperation in the areas of science, arts, sports, preservation of national cultural heritage and restitution of cultural artefacts, access to new technologies, cyberspace and online information platforms, criminality and regional/international security, as well as the issue of frozen foreign assets of Syrian financial institutions and other entities.

“I urge the international community and the sanctioning states in particular, to pay heed to the devastating effects of sanctions and to take prompt and concrete steps to address over-compliance by businesses and banks in accordance with international human right law,” she said.

“In the words of one of my interlocutors, echoing numerous others: ‘I saw much suffering, but now I see the hope die,’” Douhan said.

During her visit the UN expert met representatives from national and local government institutions, non-governmental organisations, associations, humanitarian actors, businesses, UN entities, academia, religious leaders and faith-based organisations, as well as the diplomatic community. In addition to the capital Damascus, she also visited Homs city, rural Homs, and rural Damascus.

The Special Rapporteur will present a report to the Human Rights Council in September 2023.

ENDS

Ms Alena Douhan (Belarus) was appointed as Special Rapporteur on the negative impact of the unilateral coercive measures on the enjoyment of human rights by the Human Rights Council in March 2020. Ms. Douhan has extensive experience in the fields of international law and human rights as, a Professor of international law at the Belarusian State University (Minsk), a visiting Professor at the Institute for International Law of Peace and Armed conflict, (Bochum, Germany) and the Director of the Peace Research Centre (Minsk). She received her PhD at the Belarusian State University in 2005 and obtained Dr. hab. in International Law and European Law in 2015 (Belarus).

Ms. Douhan’s academic and research interests are in the fields of international law, sanctions and human rights law, international security law, law of international organizations, international dispute settlement, and international environmental law.

Special Rapporteurs are part of what is known as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures, the largest body of independent experts in the UN Human Rights system, is the general name of the Council’s independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms that address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world. Special Procedures’ experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. They are independent from any government or organization and serve in their individual capacity.

Inuit Greenlanders demand answers over Danish birth control scandal

Inuit Greenlanders demand answers over Danish birth control scandal

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 Denmark and Greenland have formally agreed to launch a two-year investigation into historic birth control practices carried out for many years on Inuit Greenlanders by Danish doctors.

Thousands of Inuit women and girls were fitted with an intrauterine device (IUD), commonly known as a coil, during the 1960s and 70s.

It is a contraceptive device placed inside the womb - or uterus - to prevent pregnancy.

Among the women and girls fitted with an IUD was Naja Lyberth.

It was in the 1970s that a doctor told Naja, who believes she was then aged about 13, to go to her local hospital to have a coil implanted following a routine school medical examination.

"I didn't really know what it [was] because he never explained or got my permission," says Naja, who at the time was living in Maniitsoq, a small town on Greenland's west coast.

Read article...

Nobel Prize Winner, Aung San Suu Kyi, presiding over the Rohingya Genocide

Nobel Prize Winner, Aung San Suu Kyi, presiding over the Rohingya Genocide

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Desmond Tutu condemns Aung San Suu Kyi: 'Silence is too high a price'
Nobel laureate issues heartfelt letter to fellow peace prize winner calling for her to speak up for Rohingya in Myanmar

Human Rights Report: UK, USA, emboldened the government of Bahrain that is committing unlawful killings, torture, and imprisonment of peaceful protesters

Human Rights Report: UK, USA, emboldened the government of Bahrain that is committing unlawful killings, torture, and imprisonment of peaceful protesters

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A new report published by Amnesty International today sheds light on the repressive tactics used by the Bahraini government over the past year to crush civil society and violently crack down on protests, leading to the deaths of six people, including one child.

UN Report: Israel is guilty of the crime of apartheid

UN Report: Israel is guilty of the crime of apartheid

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A senior U.N. official resigned on Friday over the withdrawal of a report accusing Israel of imposing an "apartheid regime" on Palestinians, saying "powerful member states" pressured the world body and its chief with "vicious attacks and threats."

Emmanuel Macron: Colonization was a crime against humanity

Emmanuel Macron: Colonization was a crime against humanity

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 Emmanuel Macron, the centrist French politician who is surging in the polls two months ahead of the presidential election, has been forced to defend himself after criticizing his country’s colonial past.

Macron, 39, was asked to clarify previous comments on colonization during an interview with Algerian television, broadcast on Tuesday night – a sensitive issue in a country that fought a bloody war to earn its independence from France.

Gaza: Israeli Soldiers Shoot and Kill Fleeing Civilians: Fighting in Khuza’a Shows Grave Dangers to Families Seeking Safety

Gaza: Israeli Soldiers Shoot and Kill Fleeing Civilians: Fighting in Khuza’a Shows Grave Dangers to Families Seeking Safety

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(Gaza) – Israeli forces in the southern Gaza town of Khuza’a fired on and killed civilians in apparent violation of the laws of war in several incidents between July 23 and 25, 2014. Deliberate attacks on civilians who are not participating in the fighting are war crimes.

An Israeli newspaper publishes then removes article that condone genocide

An Israeli newspaper publishes then removes article that condone genocide

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An Israeli newspaper appeared to attempt to avert a backlash on Friday evening, when it removed a post entitled "When Genocide is Permissible" from its website less than a minute after it was uploaded.

The post, made live on The Times of Israel website at 5:36pm, was written by Yochanan Gordon regarding Israel’s current offensive in Gaza.

Outrage at Syrian rebel shown 'eating soldier's heart'

Outrage at Syrian rebel shown 'eating soldier's heart'

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A video which appears to show a Syrian rebel taking a bite from the heart of a dead soldier has been widely condemned.

US-based Human Rights Watch identified the rebel as Abu Sakkar, a well-known insurgent from the city of Homs, and said his actions were a war crime.

The main Syrian opposition coalition said he would be put on trial.

The video, which cannot be independently authenticated, seems to show him cutting out the heart.

"I swear to God we will eat your hearts and your livers, you soldiers of Bashar the dog," the man says referring to President Bashar al-Assad as he stands over the soldier's corpse.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) says Abu Sakkar is the leader of a group called the Independent Omar al-Farouq Brigade.

"The mutilation of the bodies of enemies is a war crime. But the even more serious issue is the very rapid descent into sectarian rhetoric and violence," HRW's Peter Bouckaert told Reuters news agency.

HRW said those committing war crimes on either side had to know that there was no impunity and that they would be brought to account.

The human rights group said Abu Sakkar had been filmed before, firing rockets into Shia areas of Lebanon and posing with the bodies of guerrillas from the Lebanese Hezbollah movement killed fighting alongside Syrian government forces.

The video, posted on Sunday, is one of the most gruesome to emerge among the many thrown up by more than two years of carnage in Syria, says the BBC's Jim Muir in Beirut.

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مقطع مصور لأحد "قادة" المعارضة المسلحة في سوريا وهو يمثل بجثة جندي من القوات الحكومية

مقطع مصور لأحد "قادة" المعارضة المسلحة في سوريا وهو يمثل بجثة جندي من القوات الحكومية

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أثار مقطع مصور لأحد "قادة" المعارضة المسلحة في سوريا وهو يمثل بجثة جندي من القوات الحكومية انتقادات دولية واسعة.

ويظهر الفيديو، الذي قالت المنظمة الدولية لحقوق الإنسان (هيومان رايتس ووتش) إنه لأحد قادة المعارضة البارزين في حمص اسمه أبو صقار، وهو يقطع قلب وكبد أحد قتلى جنود القوات النظامية السورية ويأكلهما.

ووصف جيم موير مراسل بي بي سي في بيروت المقطع المصور - الذي لم تتأكد مصداقيته - بأنه الأكثر ترويعا على مدار العامين الماضيين منذ اندلاع الصراع في سوريا.

محققة دولية: شهادات ترجح استخدام مسلحي المعارضة السورية أسلحة كيميائية

محققة دولية: شهادات ترجح استخدام مسلحي المعارضة السورية أسلحة كيميائية

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محققة دولية: شهادات ترجح استخدام مسلحي المعارضة السورية أسلحة كيميائية

قالت كارلا ديل بونتي عضو لجنة التحقيق المستقلة التابعة للامم المتحدة، في شأن جرائم الحرب وانتهاكات حقوق الانسان الاخرى في سوريا، إن المحققين جمعوا شهادات من ضحايا الحرب الاهلية السورية وموظفين طبيين تشير الى ان مسلحي المعارضة استخدموا غاز الاعصاب السارين.

غير أن اللجنة نفسها قالت إنها لم تنته بعد من التحقيقات واستخلاص النتائج.

وقالت ديل بونتي ان لجنة التحقيق التي تتخذ من جنيف مقرا لها لم تر دليلا بعد على استخدام القوات الحكومية الاسلحة الكيميائية المحظورة بموجب القانون الدولي.

وقالت ديل بونتي في مقابلة تلفزيونية ان "محققينا زاروا الدول المجاورة واجروا مقابلات مع الضحايا والاطباء والمستشفيات الميدانية، واستنادا الى تقريرهم الاسبوع الماضي الذي اطلعت عليه، فهناك شكوك قوية وملموسة ولكنها لم ترق الى أن تصبح دليلا لا يقبل الجدل على استخدام غاز السارين من الطريقة التي عولج بها الضحايا.

ولم تعط ديل بونتي تفاصيل عن زمان ومكان استخدام السارين.

الأمم المتحدة: الحكومة والمعارضة مسؤولتان عن جرائم حرب في سوريا

الأمم المتحدة: الحكومة والمعارضة مسؤولتان عن جرائم حرب في سوريا

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قال تقرير للجنة تابعة للأمم المتحدة مكلفة بتقصي الحقائق في سوريا إن أفرادا من المعارضة السورية التي تقود تمردا مسلحا في داخل سوريا ومن قوات الأمن السورية مسؤولون عن وقوع جرائم حرب في البلاد.

وقالت إن تلك الممارسات شملت "إعدامات وتعذيب وترهيب المدنيين العزل" خلال العامين الماضيين.

في هذه الأثناء قالت المدعية العامة السابقة بمحكمة الجنايات الدولية "إنه من المتوجب أن تنظر المحكمة الجنائية الدولية الآن في حقيقة وجود جرائم حرب في سوريا".

وأضافت ديل بونتي العضو في لجنة تقصي الحقائق عن الوضع سوريا في تصريحاتها المتزامنة مع اصدار التقرير أنه "على الأمم المتحددة ومجلس الأمن اتخاذ قرارات بهذا الشأن (...) فنحن نحاول اقناع هذه الهيئات بالقيام بذلك لأن الوقت قد حان."

Documenting war crimes in Syria: summary executions

Documenting war crimes in Syria: summary executions

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More than 80 bodies were pulled out of the river in Northern Syria. The victims, with hands tied and hooded appear to be victims of summary execution act. The government accuses the rebels and the rebels accuse the government. The identity of the victims may help identify the side that committed these crimes.

المعارضة السورية المسلحة تستخدم الأطفال في النزاع: تقارير عن خدمة صبية كمقاتلين وحراس وعناصر مراقبة واستطلاع

المعارضة السورية المسلحة تستخدم الأطفال في النزاع: تقارير عن خدمة صبية كمقاتلين وحراس وعناصر مراقبة واستطلاع

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قالت هيومن رايتس ووتش اليوم إن جماعات معارضة مسلحة تقاتل في سوريا تستخدم أطفالاً في القتال وفي أغراض عسكرية أخرى. تبينت لهيومن رايتس ووتش وجود أطفال في سن قد تبلغ 14 عاماً يخدمون في ثلاث كتائب معارضة على الأقل، وينقلون الأسلحة والإمدادات ويقومون بأعمال مراقبة، كما شوهد أطفال في سن 16 عاماً يحملون السلاح ويقاتلون ضد قوات الحكومة. قالت هيومن رايتس ووتش إن على قادة المعارضة التقدم بتعهدات علنية بإنهاء هذه الممارسة، وبحظر استخدام أي شخص تحت 18 عاماً لأغراض عسكرية، ولو حتى على أساس تطوعي.

قابلت هيومن رايتس ووتش خمسة صبية بين 14 و16 عاماً، قالوا إنهم يعملون مع المعارضة المسلحة في حمص ودرعا وخربة الجوز، وهي بلدة صغيرة بإدلب قرب الحدود التركية. قال ثلاثة من الصبية – يبلغون جميعاً من العمر 16 عاماً – إنهم يحملون السلاح. قال أحدهم إنه تلقى تدريباً عسكرياً وشارك في مهمات قتالية هجومية. قال اثنان من الصبية – 14 و15 عاماً – إنهما يدعمون، مع صبية آخرين، كتائب المعارضة بإجراء عمليات مراقبة واستطلاع وبنقل الأسلحة والإمدادات. كما قابلت هيومن رايتس ووتش ثلاثة آباء سوريين قالوا إن أبنائهم تحت 18 عاماً مكثوا في سوريا كي يقاتلوا.

وقالت بريانكا موتابارثي، باحثة قسم حقوق الطفل في هيومن رايتس ووتش: “جميع الأعين تنظر إلى المعارضة السورية لكي تثبت أنها تحاول حماية الأطفال من الرصاص والقنابل، ولا تعرضهم للخطر. من أفضل السبل لأن يحمي القادة العسكريون الأطفال، هو التقدم بتعهد قوي وعلني ضد استخدام الأطفال ضمن صفوف المقاتلين، والتأكد من أعمار الصبية قبل السماح لهم بالالتحاق بالقوات”.

Documenting War Crimes in Syria

Documenting War Crimes in Syria

    6:05 PM   No comments

Free Syrian Army doing what exactly the same thing they accuse the regime of doing; why would the people trust them if they are the same? Torture is immoral and illegal.

CONVENTION AGAINST TORTURE
and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading
Treatment or Punishment

Torture in Syria

Torture in Syria

    9:13 AM   No comments

Torture and degrading treatment of persons in conflict zones. This particular video depicts groups affiliated with the Free Syrian Army torturing a civilian and then calling his father for ransom money.

Torture is a serious violation of human rights and is strictly prohibited by international law. As the use of torture strikes at the very heart of civil and political freedoms, it was one of the first issues dealt with by the United Nations (UN) in its development of human rights standards. One of its earliest measures was to abolish corporal punishment in colonial territories in 1949. International law prohibits torture and other forms of inhuman and degrading treatment, which cannot be accepted under any circumstances.

Despite being stringently outlawed, torture continues to be practiced in a majority of countries round the world. A 2001 report by Amnesty International highlighted the use of torture by 140 states between 1997 and 2001, and found that every year thousands of perpetrators beat, rape and electrocute other human beings.

Free Syrian Army committing war crimes: tortured mentally challenged civilian

Free Syrian Army committing war crimes: tortured mentally challenged civilian

    11:44 AM   No comments

Apparently he was tortured for fun only, not for interrogation purpose.

Victim was a mentally challenged civilian . Abducted with uncertain fate.

FSA Free Syrian Army is accused of war crimes & crimes against humanity by the UN,HRW.
Free Syrian Army's crimes against humanity including execution of captured anti-revolution civilians.

War Crimes in Syria

War Crimes in Syria

    11:17 AM   No comments

Place: Deraa - Syria
Victim: Cheif police officer
Victim: Ahmed Nassouh
Perpetrator: FSA

FSA Free Syrian Army is accused of war crimes & crimes against humanity by the UN,HRW.
Free Syrian Army's crimes against humanity including execution of captured anti-revolution civilians.

Documenting War Crimes in Syria

Documenting War Crimes in Syria

    11:14 AM   No comments

Documenting War Crimes in Syria



Location: Deraa-Syria
Date: 13-Jul-2012
Victims: unknown
Perpetrators: FSA


Unknown body found on a highway with piece of paper says "Killed for supporting Assad"


FSA Free Syrian Army is accused of war crimes & crimes against humanity by the UN,HRW.
Free Syrian Army's crimes against humanity including execution of captured anti-revolution civilians.