Syria
Monthly Action Points on Women, Peace & Security for February 2012
NGO Working Group on Women, Peace & Security
In the MAP for February 2012, the NGOWG had several recommendations for the Security Council on the current situation in Syria:
The Syrian government continues to violate the December 19th, 2011 agreement brokered with the Arab League. Rights organizations have documented the shooting of peaceful protesters by security forces, the arbitrary detention of protesters and activists, the denial of access to Mission Observers to detention centers, the provision of police IDs to military personnel, and the continued presence of the Military in Jisr al-Shughur, Idlib and the al-Midan neighborhood of Damascus. In its continuing discussions on Syria, the Council should coordinate with the Arab League to:
- Impose an arms embargo on Syria;
- Following a fair and transparent process, impose targeted sanctions against the individuals responsible for grave violations;
- Demand unhindered access for humanitarian missions, journalists, and independent human rights organizations;
- Call on the Syrian government to cooperate with the OHCHR in establishing a human rights monitoring presence;
- Refer the situation in Syria to the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court; and
- In the case of an extended Observer Mission under the Arab League, the UN Security Council should call on the Syrian government to cooperate with the Mission.
Monthly Action Points on Women, Peace & Security for January 2012
NGO Working Group on Women, Peace & Security
In the MAP for January 2012, the NGOWG had several recommendations for the Security Council on the current situation in Syria:
The Council has received the report of the independent international commission of inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic, established by the Human Rights Council in August 2011, which concludes that crimes against humanity have been committed in that country. The commission of inquiry received testimony of sexual violence committed by security and military forces, mostly against men and boys, and that women were threatened and insulted during house raids by the military and security forces. Defectors from the military and security forces indicated that they had been present in places of detention where women were sexually assaulted. In its discussions regarding the situation in Syria, the Council should:
- Demand that Syria end the widespread human rights abuses committed by government forces, including the use of excessive and lethal force against demonstrators, arbitrary detention and torture;
- Refer the situation in Syria immediately to Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court;
- Impose a complete arms embargo on Syria preventing the transfer of all weaponry, munitions and related equipment and the provision of personnel and assistance;
- Implement an asset freeze against President Bashar al-Assad and others who may be involved in ordering or perpetrating serious violations of human rights or international humanitarian law;
- Demand that Syria cooperate fully with the Independent International Commission of Inquiry established by the UN Human Rights Council and the monitoring mission established by the Arab League, including by providing both with immediate and unfettered access;
- Invite the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to periodically brief the Council on the situation in Syria;
- Consider the conclusions and recommendations of the report of the UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria; and
- Demand access for humanitarian missions, independent journalists, and independent human rights organizations.
Monthly Action Points on Women, Peace & Security for October 2011
NGO Working Group on Women, Peace & Security
In the MAP for October 2011, the NGOWG had several recommendations for the Security Council on the current situation in Syria:
The situation in Syria is being discussed by the Council, as the government continues its repression of pro- reform protests. The Security Council should refer the situation in Syria immediately to the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court; impose a complete arms embargo on Syria preventing the transfer of all weaponry, munitions and related equipment and the provision of personnel and assistance; and implement an asset freeze against President Bashar al-Assad and others who may be involved in ordering or perpetrating serious violations of human rights or international humanitarian law.
States must act resolutely on UN report on Syria
November 28, 2011
Amnesty International
Amnesty International today urged states to act on a UN report confirming that Syrian security forces committed crimes against humanity during their violent crackdown on demonstrators this year.
Link to Article
Opinion: Time to involve women in post-conflict rebuilding
November 25, 2011
Amnesty International
These past few months have seen many advances on women’s participation in post-conflict settings; at least on paper.
Link to Article
Syria: Joint Call by Civil Society for a Special Session of the UN Human Rights Council to consider the findings of the Syrian Commission of Inquiry and ensure accountability
November 22, 2011
Amnesty International
As civil society organizations from around the world we urgently call on the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council (HRC) to convene a special session on Syria immediately after the release of the report of the HRC International Commission of Inquiry on Syria (the Commission of Inquiry), which is due before the end of November 2011.
Link to Article
Syria: UN General Assembly should condemn the violence in Syria
November 21, 2011
Amnesty International
On November 17 2011 a large group of countries tabled in the Third Committee of the General Assembly a resolution condemning the systematic human rights violations by the Syrian authorities. The text calls for an end to the widespread abuses by the Syrian security apparatus and for the implementation of the plan of action of the Arab League. In this document civil society organizations urge the UN General assembly to support this resolution and demonstrate that the world will not simply stand idle while ordinary Syrians are being killed, arbitrarily detained, and tortured.
Link to Article
Syria: UN General Assembly Should Condemn the Violence
November 21, 2011
Human Rights Watch
On October 20 a number of our organizations wrote to you to urge the UN General Assembly to demand an end to the government-sponsored violence in Syria. A lot has happened since. On November 2, Syria pledged to abide by the Arab League peace plan and cease the violence, withdraw its troops from cities, release prisoners, and allow in independent journalists and human rights monitors.
Link to article
Arab League: Ensure Effective Syria Monitoring Missions
November 19, 2011
Human Rights Watch
The Arab League should ensure that Syria grants its monitoring mission unhindered access to conflict zones and detention facilities, and that it can operate independent of Syrian security services and other authorities.
Link to article
Statement on Landmines Protocol of the Convention on Conventional Weapons
November 19, 2011
Human Rights Watch
Steve Goose delivers statement at the 13th Annual Conference of Amended Protocol II of the Convention on Conventional Weapons in Geneva
Link to article
Arab League vote to suspend Syria puts pressure on Security Council to act
November 14, 2011
Amnesty International
The Arab League’s decision to suspend Syria must spur the UN Security Council into action, Amnesty International said today.
Link to Article
Syria: Model Letter to governments regarding General Assembly resolution on Syria
November 11, 2011
Amnesty International
Amnesty International believes the United Nations General Assembly must demand an end to the ongoing and massive human rights violations in Syria and asks your government’s support for efforts in that direction at the Assembly.
Link to Article
Statement on Landmines Protocol of the Convention on Conventional Weapons
November 11, 2011
Human Rights Watch
Steve Goose delivers statement at the 13th Annual Conference of Amended Protocol II of the Convention on Conventional Weapons in Geneva
Link to article
Syria: Crimes Against Humanity in Homs
November 11, 2011
Human Rights Watch
The systematic nature of abuses against civilians in Homs by Syrian government forces, including torture and unlawful killings, indicate that crimes against humanity have been committed, Human Rights Watch said in a new report released today. Human Rights Watch urged the Arab League, meeting in Cairo on November 12, 2011, to suspend Syria’s membership in the League and to ask the United Nations Security Council to impose an arms embargo and sanctions against individuals responsible for the violations, and refer Syria to the International Criminal Court.
Link to article
Arab League must press Syria to allow human rights monitors
November 10, 2011
Amnesty International
The Arab League must press Syria to allow entry for independent human rights monitors, Amnesty International said today, as killings and arrests continue in Syria in defiance of an agreement to end the violence.
Link to Article
UN General Assembly Should Condemn the Violence in Syria
October 25, 2011
Amnesty International
In light of the Security Council’s failure to address the violence by Syria’s security forces against their own people, we call on the UN General Assembly urgently to adopt a resolution demanding that the Syrian government immediately halt all unlawful use of lethal and excessive force against demonstrators, end the arbitrary arrest and torture of detainees, account for all those who have been subject to enforced disappearances, cooperate with the Commission of Inquiry established by the UN Human Rights Council, allow the unrestricted deployment of human rights monitors, and grant access to humanitarian organizations and independent journalists.
Link to Article
Arab League: Deploy Civilian Monitors in Syria
October 25, 2011
Human Rights Watch
The League of Arab States should demand that Syria’s government allow independent, on-the-ground, civilian monitors to observe the behavior of the security services, Human Rights Watch said today. Such monitoring would be an essential step to end the violence in Syria and restore a climate of trust, Human Rights Watch said.
Link to article
UN General Assembly: Condemn the Violence in Syria
October 20, 2011
Human Rights Watch
In light of the Security Council’s failure to address the violence by Syria’s security forces against their own people, we call on the UN General Assembly urgently to adopt a resolution demanding that the Syrian government immediately halt all unlawful use of lethal and excessive force against demonstrators, end the arbitrary arrest and torture of detainees, account for all those who have been subject to enforced disappearances, cooperate with the Commission of Inquiry established by the UN Human Rights Council, allow the unrestricted deployment of human rights monitors, and grant access to humanitarian organizations and independent journalists.
Link to article
Gender and Torture: Conference report
October 17, 2011
Amnesty International
Torture has been widely viewed in the past in terms of pain and suffering inflicted on a person – usually assumed to be male – in the custody of the state. However, this narrow understanding excludes many forms of severe pain and suffering deliberately inflicted on women and girls. This report summarizes a two-day conference on the gender dimensions of the prohibition of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
Link to Report
IBSA: Push Syria to End Bloodshed
October 15, 2011
Human Rights Watch
India, Brazil, and South Africa are not leveraging their rising global influence to help stop the bloodshed in Syria, Human Rights Watch said today. Leaders of the three countries should use their two-day Heads of State and Government Dialogue Forum, hosted by President Jacob Zuma on October 17, 2011, to categorically demand that the Syrian government end its widespread and systematic attacks on antigovernment protesters and activists. Syria should also grant access to UN investigators and human rights monitors, Human Rights Watch said.
Link to article
Blocking of Security Council resolution on Syria a ‘shocking betrayal’
October 5, 2011
Amnesty International
Permanent members of the Security Council that used their veto yesterday to block a binding resolution on Syria have utterly failed in their responsibilities to protect the Syrian people, Amnesty International said today.
Link to article
Member Organizations
© 2012 NGO Working Group on Women, Peace and Security