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United Nations

Amnesty International Urges UN Security Council to Enforce Resolution 2139 and Protect Syrian Civilians

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The United Nations Security Council is under pressure from Amnesty International to take decisive action to enforce resolution 2139, which aims to end indiscriminate and direct attacks against civilians in Syria. The international human rights organization is calling for the imposition of an arms embargo on the Syrian government and targeted sanctions against individuals responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity. Amnesty International's Director of the Middle East and North Africa Programme, Philip Luther, emphasized that the continuous violation of resolution 2139 has resulted in the death of countless civilians, particularly children, and has created an endless cycle of bloodshed. The organization is urging the Security Council to refer the situation in Syria to the International Criminal Court, which would provide a measure of justice for victims and deter future violations.

Key Takeaways:

  • Amnesty International is calling on the UN Security Council to enforce resolution 2139, which aims to end indiscriminate and direct attacks against civilians in Syria.
  • The organization is urging the Security Council to impose an arms embargo on the Syrian government and targeted sanctions against individuals responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity.
  • The continued violation of resolution 2139 has resulted in the death of countless civilians, particularly children.
  • Amnesty International is highlighting the devastating impact of barrel bombs and other explosive weapons on civilians, with at least 14,000 civilians killed in these attacks since the conflict began.
  • The organization is also urging the Security Council to refer the situation in Syria to the International Criminal Court to provide justice for victims and deter future violations.
  • Philip Luther, Amnesty International's Director of the Middle East and North Africa Programme, emphasized the need for concrete actions to reduce and deter violations against civilians, rather than mere condemnation.
  • The UN "Arria-formula" meeting convened by France and Spain on 26 June offers a rare opportunity for the Security Council to address accountability for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Syria.

Statistics:

  • At least 14,000 civilians have been killed in barrel bomb attacks in Syria since the conflict began (Source: Amnesty International).
  • Syrian government forces have dropped over 24,000 barrel bombs in populated areas, causing widespread destruction and civilian casualties (Source: Amnesty International).
  • The conflict in Syria has resulted in over 500,000 deaths, including civilians, combatants, and prisoners (Source: UNHCR).
  • Over 5.6 million people have been displaced in the conflict, with many more trapped in Syria or living in neighboring countries (Source: UNHCR).

Sources:

  • Amnesty International, "NGOs unite to urge the UN Security Council to take urgent action to stop civilian attacks in Syria" (http://news.withsyria.com/).
  • Amnesty International, "Syria: UN must take action to stop barrel bomb attacks" (report published in May 2015).
  • UNHCR, "Syria Crisis" (http://www.unhcr.org/syria-crisis.html).

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