GENEVE, Sept 28 (KUNA) -- United Nations Human Rights Council is scheduled to debate a draft resolution on Syria, presented by Kuwait and other Arab countries, partially calling for extension of the UN panel on Syria and urging Damascus to cooperate fully with the international team.
Sources well-informed about diplomatic efforts on wording of the proposed resolution told Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) that the discussions were proceeding among representatives of member states, in face of Russian rejection of some of the proposed terms.
The draft resolution, proposed by Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Libya, Jordan and Morocco, essentially calls for extending mission of the Independent Commission of Inquiry on Syria, set up by the UN Human Rights Council last year, to follow up on human rights breaches in Syria and submit a report to the 22nd UN council session, due next year.
It also calls on the panel to update the reports about human rights violations since March 2011, reiterates the call upon the Damascus regime to cooperate fully with the commission, allowing its members to have free access to all regions of the country. Moreover, it stipulates that the UN secretary general should be briefed directly about these reports, condemns wide-scale breaches of human rights in Syria, acts of violence and terrorism, by the Syrian authorities and the loyal paramilitary forces, urges the warring sides to end all forms of violence, respect international laws in full, take necessary measures to protect women and girls from sex violence and rape.
The suggested decision urges the Syrian authorities to free, immediately, all persons of who have been held behind bars arbitrarily, reveal a list of all detention places and allowing independent observers to reach the detention centers. Furthermore, it urges the Syrian authorities to honor its commitments of protecting the citizens, calls for international investigation into cases of abuse including those that are viewed as tantamount to crimes against humanity.
It affirms respect of aspirations of the Syrian people for democracy, urges potential donors to secure financial aid for the stricken nation, calls on the authorities to secure free access for humanitarian agencies to all areas, condemns usage of heavy arms against civilians, genocides, arbitrary executions, torture, sexual violence and maltreatment that also involve children. (end) ta.rk KUNA 281004 Sep 12NNNN