Item 6: Universal Periodic Review Outcome Syrian Arab Republic

Organisation: Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW)

Speaker: Claire Denman

Thank you, Mr President.

CSW thanks the Syrian Arab Republic for cooperating with the UPR process.

We deeply regret its decision to reject recommendations to end enforced disappearances, abductions, arbitrary arrests and detention, extrajudicial killings, systematic use of torture, and sexual and gender-based violence. Such acts cannot be allowed to continue with impunity.

CSW is also concerned by reports of ongoing violations against Syria’s religious and ethnic minorities in law and in practice. Regrettably, there is no evidence that accepted recommendations from the previous UPR pertaining to freedom of religion or belief have been implemented.

While the civil war has negatively impacted every religious and ethnic group, in areas controlled by Islamist militias other religious communities, including the Bahai, Ahmadiyya, Yazidis and Christians, have suffered particularly appalling treatment. Many have been forced to flee the country due to the hostile environment created by these militias, rendering some areas ‘religiously cleansed.’

Attacks and harassment targeting the Christian community included extortion through kidnapping, rape, seizure and destruction of property, forced conversion under threat of death, and murder.

Alongside discrimination in law, targeted attacks against the Yazidi people have been allowed to continue unabated and with impunity.

We welcome Syria’s acceptance of recommendations during this cycle to conduct a review of national laws and repeal provisions that discriminate against ethnic and religious minorities, and to end all restrictions on religious freedoms for Christians and other minorities.  

We urge Syria to remedy its failure to implement previous recommendations by ensuring recommendations accepted during this cycle are fully implemented, and to ensure that perpetrators of human rights violations, including against religious or belief groups, are held accountable.

We further urge Syria to implement accepted recommendations to end indiscriminate attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure, and fully involve religious and ethnic communities in a transparent, inclusive peace negotiating process.

Lastly, we call on this Council to ensure ongoing accountability, and provide technical assistance.

Thank you.