EP calls for creation of safe heavens for humanitarian aid in Syria

BRUSSELS, April 17 (KUNA) -- The European Parliament passed three resolutions on Thursday, supporting the recommendations of the UN Commission of Inquiry into human rights violations in North Korea; expressing deep concern at the increase in sectarian violence and religious intolerance in Pakistan; and calling for establishing humanitarian corridors in Syria.
According to an EP statement, the resolution on Syria says all vulnerable communities in Syria should be protected, by allowing humanitarian access and lifting all sieges of populated areas, including the old city of Homs.
It calls for the establishment of safe havens and for the creation of humanitarian corridors.
The EP expresses support for all efforts at local level to avoid and combat sectarian violence in rebel-held areas and in Kurdish-majority areas and calls for special attention to be given to the vulnerable situation of Palestine refugees in Syria.
On Pakistan, the resolution expresses grave concern that the controversial blasphemy laws are open to misuse which can affect people of all faiths in Pakistan.
It calls on Pakistani authorities to review them and their application. It also calls for hate material to be removed from the curricula and for teaching on community and religious tolerance to be included in the basic syllabus.
All acts of violence against religious communities and all kinds of discrimination and intolerance on the grounds of religion and beliefs are in Pakistan strongly condemned by the EP.
The EP calls on North Korea to put an immediate end to the grave, widespread and systematic human rights violations perpetrated against its own people and demands that those most responsible for the crimes against humanity to be held accountable, brought before the International Criminal Court and subjected to targeted sanctions. (end) nk.sd