NEWS
The new Arab: Besieged and starved: How 'the wheel of life' has stopped in Syria's Daraa
As the people of Daraa al-Balad area remain at loggerheads with the Syrian regime and Russian forces, the residents are being starved of food and medicine while also deprived of education and other basic amenities over their refusal to participate in Assad’s “farce” elections.
Since May, Daraa has been under siege by the Bashar al-Assad regime.
Daraa al-Balad consists of several neighbourhoods, Palestinian refugee camps as well as camps for those displaced in the occupied Syrian Golan. There are also agricultural farms within the two to the three-kilometre area, but many have moved their operations, fearing bombardment by regime forces.
No access to medicine or care
Blocked off from medical attention, the elderly and children faint from the heat, as access to treatment for serious illnesses is barred.
“A woman passed away while she was giving birth because she was prevented from entering the hospital,” local businessman and family man Mohamed Zatima tells The New Arab.
He says that the Russians even go as far as to block off veterinary supplies to the area. “A siege by the Russians and the regime on Daraa al-Balad is not limited to humans, but even to animals,” he comments.
Coronavirus is also a cause for alarm, as cases are rising and victims of the deadly disease cannot enter the hospital in the city centre.
Local father-of-six Abu Abdullah, 55, who is now out of work due to poor health, describes life in besieged Daraa as tragic and difficult under a “suffocating blockade”.
Having undergone an open-heart surgery eight months ago, he needs access to hard-to-get medicine, which is now impossible. “There is medicine I will have to cut out due to the lack of it, no presence of doctors, and my inability to buy it on the black market,” he says.
He continues: “There is no water, no electricity, no way to go to hospitals and doctors in the regime’s area from medical laboratories, radiology or service centres.”
"A woman passed away while she was giving birth because she was prevented from entering the hospital"
The Syrian regime and Russian planes fly low over the neighbourhoods, frightening children, causing great anxiety, and making it impossible for them to continue their education.
“I have four children who were prevented from entering schools and practising their hobbies," says Mohamed Zatima. "Due to the Russian jets which fly over the neighbourhoods at a low level, the children suffer from anxiety which has affected their behaviour.”
Abu Abdullah says his daughters are unable to complete their education, due to the fact they are blocked off from schools in regime territory, and his other children are unable to work. “My children are deprived of their human rights, they have neither work nor study,” he says.
"My children are deprived of their human rights, they have neither work nor study"
Protests continue
Despite the besiegement, local activists continue to protest against the regime’s blockade, and the presidential elections, known as “the farce”. Untrusting the Russians, the local governing bodies have rejected the most recent deal put forward.
Local activist Loranc Alakrad explains, “Russia asked us to hand over light weapons, 200 Kalashnikov rifles and 20 machine guns, but the response of the civil committee was that we do not have these weapons, and it cannot be delivered – this request was completely rejected.”
Local protests demand the release of detainees, and the implementation of certain clauses in the July 2018 agreement that have not yet materialised, including the removal of militias and the return of the army – which has taken up residents in civilian homes and shops – to its barracks, the return of students to their schools and universities, and employees to their jobs.
رغم الحصار الخانق
— لورنس أبو آدم (@lornce_adm) July 3, 2021
رغم التهديدات الروسية
رغم تآمر الجميع
على مهد الثورة #درعا_البلد
يخرح الأهالي ويصدحون بأعلى صوتهم سوف نبقى
تحدي وصمود
صبر وتحمل
لتبقى مهد الثورة القلعة الصامدة
بثلة من شبابها الصابرين الثابتين#فكوا_الحصار_عن_درعا_البلد#تضامن_مع_مهد_الثورة#الحرية_لدرعا pic.twitter.com/AtjvDrV1Rt
What next?
As the siege continues on the city, the residents can only speculate what will happen next. Will the regime launch a brutal offensive? Or will it simply continue its siege until the locals are starved out?
“The regime and the Russians are still besieging the neighbourhoods of Daraa al-Balad, and in light of the arrival of new reinforcements, this suggests the possibility of a storming and massacre against us,” Mohamed Zatima explains.
He fears an offensive against the people of Daraa, however, others don’t.
“We are almost dead and there is no deterrent to him after the world abandoned us and his possession to all kinds of power and with the support of regional and global powers,” Abu Abdullah says. “This is a method of starvation and siege… and punishing a people for just an opinion.”
Mohamed Zatima says if Assad stood in front of him, he would call him a child killer and a war criminal.
He dreams of a better Syria, and rather than migrate to Europe, he has hope that Syria can achieve democracy: “I do not want to emigrate, but I want my country to become like the countries of Europe in terms of respect for human beings and appreciation of humanity. Syria is our country and the country of our ancestors.”
Abu Abdullah on the other hand would want to migrate, striving for a decent future for his children. He would tell Assad to leave them in peace: “Leave and let us heal our wounds, for we have been exhausted by the war.”
The Authors:
Amy Addison-Dunne is a freelance digital journalist with an interest in the Middle East and British politics. She has written for the Daily Mirror, Morning Star.
Marwa Koçak is a journalist and translator with an interest in politics and human rights in the Middle East. She speaks Arabic, English and Turkish. She has written for Middle East Eye, Al-Jazeera.
COVID-19 IN SYRIA: The number of vaccine doses that were provided for northern Syria is incredibly low compared to the population.
My name is Noor Asidi, I studied nursing and midwifery. I currently work at Early Warning, Alert and Response Network (EWARN), where I take swabs and conduct COVID-19 tests.
First we prepare the testing devices and the necessary forms, then we start reaching out to isolation centers as well as individual patients who were showing symptoms but were not admitted to a healthcare center.
Noor Asidi at the COVID-19 testing center in Idlib / Abdullah Hammam
We health workers fighting COVID are in immediate danger, so we have to take all possible precautions. That’s why I put on all my protective gear before I begin taking swabs. After I take a swab from the patient, our team provides the patient with information about the virus, how it spreads, how they can isolate themselves, and we advise them to stay in isolation until the swab results come back. If the swab is positive, we tell them to self- isolate either at home, without coming in contact with anyone, or at one of the available isolation centers. We also explain to COVID-19 positive patients how important it is to wear a mask and take the prescribed medication.
Noor Asidi taking nose swab from a patient in Idlib / Abdullah Hammam
One of the biggest issues we face in northern Syria is the lack of oxygen supplies in the isolation centers. If an elderly person or someone with chronic illness comes to us, there would still be no possibility of admitting them into the center due to either the lack of doctors or the lack of enough oxygen.
What I think people can do is collaborate and work towards expanding the oxygen capacity that our isolation centers have. This could perhaps be done by providing small mobile oxygenating devices or by supporting oxygen-generating plant projects in the area.
The number of vaccine doses that were provided for northern Syria is incredibly low compared to the population.
When the vaccine was first announced, most people had their doubts about it, some people even refused to take it. Now, after we have seen the positive effects the vaccine has carried with it to other countries, and as studies keep confirming that the vaccines are created in accordance with WHO, we’re changing our minds and leaning more towards having the vaccine.
Personally, I took the first dose of the vaccine about four weeks ago, I didn’t get any of the side effects or symptoms that some people are spreading fear about. I plan on taking the second dose, of course, to achieve the best protection possible, and I do advise everyone to comply with their healthcare provider and take the vaccine if they’ve been advised to.
Photos credit: Abdullah Hammam
Independent: Protests after Syria appointed to WHO’s executive board
Protesters accused the Assad regime of years of attacks on hospitals
(AP)
Medical workers in Syria have protested furiously after the country’s government was elevated to the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) executive board.
They took to the streets in rebel-held Idlib after learning the regime of Bashar al-Assad had been appointed to the body after a vote that faced no debate or opposition.
The WHO’s executive board members hold three-year terms. They set the agenda for its health assembly – the decision-making body – and implement its policies.
Protesters noted the grim irony of the Assad regime’s appointment, following its years of bombing raids on hospitals and clinics during Syria’s bloody, 10-year civil war.
“We reject the idea that our killer and he who destroyed our hospitals be represented on the executive board,” read a banner carried by some of the protesters on Monday. Some two dozen medical staff members protested outside the main health department.
Rifaat Farhat, a senior health official in Idlib, said Saturday’s vote “contradicts all international and humanitarian laws”.
Salwa Abdul-Rahman, a citizen journalist based in Idlib province – the last rebel stronghold in the country – said he feared a representative of the government could try to cut medical aid to the region, which is home to millions of people.
Hundreds of medical centres have been bombed, mostly in government airstrikes. Half the remaining hospitals and health facilities are functioning only partially or not at all, while 70 per cent of Syria’s medical personnel have fled.
UN watch: Syria Elected to WHO Executive Board, Activists Outraged
GENEVA, May 29, 2021 — Syria was elected to the World Health Organization’s executive board on Friday, sparking outrage among human rights activists worldwide.
“Syria’s election is a travesty,” said Hillel Neuer, executive director of UN Watch, an independent non-governmental human rights group based in Switzerland. “It’s like appointing a pyromaniac to be the town fire chief.”
“Syria’s Assad regime, with the help of its allies Russia and Iran, systematically bombs hospitals and clinics, killing doctors, nurses, and others as they care for the sick and injured. Health professionals have also been arrested, disappeared, imprisoned, tortured and executed. Electing this murderous regime to govern the world’s top health body is an insult to Assad’s millions of victims, and sends a terrible message,” said Neuer.
White Helmets, the Syrian civil defense group of emergency medical workers, also condemned the election. “We are appalled by the WHO’s decision to reward the Assad regime for destroying hospitals and killing doctors and refusing to provide medical assistance to Syrians by electing it as a member of its executive board,” tweeted the group.
Neuer called on UN chief Antonio Guterres and WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus to denounce Syria’s election.
Over the past 10 years in Syria, there were 598 attacks on health care facilities and personnel, 350 health care facilities were targeted, and 930 medical professionals were killed, according to Physicians For Human Rights.
WE DARED TO DREAM: THE STORY OF SALEM'S PAINTINGS
“We dared to dream and we will not regret dignity” - this was our message for the 10 Year anniversary of the Syrian Revolution.
ACTION FOR SAMA FACEBOOK FRAME
The first time part of this phrase was shared, was on wall graffiti in Daraa, Syria in March 2019. The words spoke to Waad, who was inspired by its meaning, describing the fight and hope of each revolutionary who has been using their voice for the past 10 years for Syria.
In February 2020, Waad adapted the phrase and it was embroidered in Arabic on a bespoke dress for the Oscars last year and then, to mark the 10 year milestone of the revolution, these words were spread far and wide through Action For Sama’s campaign. A Facebook Frame was specially designed by Mohamad Bwedany, which is being used by over 35,000 people to date.
Sharing of the phrase did not stop there. Salem al-Atrash, who you will recognise from For Sama film with Afraa and their children, took paintbrush to paper for a very special project for some of our supporters.
These supporters have been with us since the beginning, using their global platforms to shine a light on For Sama film and the work we are doing at Action For Sama.
Salem created beautiful, bespoke paintings with a special message from Waad, which were posted to friends of the campaign: Emilia Clarke, Kit Harrington, Alec Baldwin, Josh O’Connor, Annie Mac, Stacey Dooley, Camilla Thurlow and Jamie Jewitt.
Salem shares his thoughts about this project:
““The idea of the paintings is derived from Waad’s dress at the Oscars Ceremony and the phrase that was written on it which for me summarizes our story, the story of the revolution, the story of a people who defied injustice and stood up to the oppressor in order to reach freedom and dignity at all costs of sacrifices.
The drawing renewed my sense of pride and belonging to this great revolution that will change the world, painting was and still is the means of peaceful protest against the silence of the world towards the crimes of the Syrian regime.”Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.”
For Salem, using his art and creativity is more than second nature, it is part of him, and he has been at the heart of the Syrian revolution art since the very beginning.
Salem used calligraphy and illustration on banners for peaceful demonstrations, he painted graffiti on the walls of Aleppo, expressing thoughts of the revolution and also through painting on the remnants of war and bombs.
““The paint brush and pen have always been my peaceful weapon, through which I reflect the face of our civilisation and the most important principles of our revolution in the right to express opinions freely.””
We have been overwhelmed with the amazing support from our Action For Sama community through the month of the anniversary and beyond.
Many people have asked if they could be part of this special project and to receive one of these beautiful creations. We are so excited to tell you that soon this will be possible, as we are launching a new way to share and support the work of Syrian artists, including Salem.
‘We dared to dream and we will not regret our dignity’ is much more than a phrase - this is the story of Syrian people who have been at the heart of the revolution for ten years; a people with a hope for change and a determination to keep moving forward for a future Free Syria.
We are looking to the decision makers, the activists, the fighters and the future generations to stand with us and help us make change.
#wedaredtodream and we will not stop.
The Washington Post: Denmark faces criticism after pushing to send refugees back to Syria
Syrians seeking asylum are led away by police in Padborg, Denmark, conducting passport checks on Denmark's border with Germany in 2016. (Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
The Danish government “is destroying the country by trying to follow these voters that they expect would agree with this policy,” said Michala Bendixen, head of Refugees Welcome Denmark. “It’s ruining our reputation around the world. And it’s ruining integration for those [refugees] who are already here.”
About 500 Syrians have been stuck in limbo since Denmark said it is reassessing temporary residency permits for refugees from Damascus, the capital, and Rif Damascus province, both controlled by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
A 2019 report by the Danish Immigration Service classified these areas as safe, citing a decline in fighting there since 2015. But on Monday, some of the experts and organizations interviewed for the report denounced the government’s conclusion.
“Damascus may not have seen active conflict hostilities since May 2018 — but that does not mean that it has become safe for refugees to return to the Syrian capital,” they wrote in a letter published by New York-based Human Rights Watch. “Many of the key drivers of displacement from Syria remain, as the majority of refugees fled, and continue to fear, the government’s security apparatus, arbitrary arrest and detention, torture, military conscription, and harassment and discrimination.”
The European Parliament, the United Nations’ refugee agency and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, among others, have rejected forcible returns to Syria.
“It’s not in the interest of the Syrian people to pressure Syrian refugees to return to Syria, including to regime-held areas, where many fear they will be arbitrarily detained, tortured or even killed by Assad’s security forces in retaliation for fleeing,” Blinken told the U.N. Security Council in March.
Charlotte Slente, secretary general of the Danish Refugee Council, said in an email to The Post, “As long as the situation in Syria is not conducive for returns, we think that it is pointless to remove people from the life they are trying to build in Denmark and put them in a waiting position without an end date, after they have fled the horrible conflict in their homeland.”
Since 2019, the Danish Immigration Service has revoked or refused to renew the residency permits of about 200 Syrians from Damascus and Rif Damascus, according to figures it provided to The Washington Post.
Covid-19 in Syria: Marwan’s message from the frontline of the pandemic response
My name is Marwan Durra, I’m a high school graduate and I’m planning on continuing my education. Right now, I am a volunteer with Violet Organisation. Here’s my story from Idlib, as we try to respond to the Coronavirus pandemic.
My work with Violet Organisation involves transporting patients, which means I am in direct contact with people who have been diagnosed with Coronavirus. I also help with coordination. I receive word about Covid-19 patients - some that need to be transferred from a hospital to an isolation centre or some patients in isolation centres who need to get to the hospital as they have deteriorated. I obtain all of the necessary information and send it out to the team.
The idea behind the isolation centres is to assist the hospitals and reduce the pressure on them. In each isolation centre there is an on-call doctor, nurses, and infection control officers. The centres’ main purpose is to receive the mild and non-critical cases of Covid-19; for example, a patient with non-dangerously low oxygen levels, or a patient with fatigue. By providing care for these cases, the hospitals can be dedicated to the critical ones that need ventilators or intensive care. One of the other roles these centre play is providing a place for Covid-19 patients to isolate themselves at these centres if they can’t isolate themselves at home for whatever reason.
On one very difficult day, we received word about a patient showing symptoms of Covid-19. He needed a swab test and then to be admitted to an isolation centre, so after coordinating with Violet’s isolation centre and communicating all of the information, we transferred the patient there. After a couple of days the results came in confirming he has Covid-19. He started to deteriorate quickly, which left him in need for a ventilator and better care. We needed to transfer him to a hospital. Usually, we don’t transfer patients without coordinating, but this time we had to make an exception. The situation was urgent. During that period of time hospitals were full of patients, so started wandering with the patient from one hospital to another, hoping that one would be able to take him. Because there were no empty beds in any hospital, we had to keep moving the patient in the ambulance for about two hours until one hospital made ends meet and accepted him. This situation caused the patient’s health to deteriorate.
At one point during the Covid-19 crisis the daily infected cases were around 500, and if only half of that number needed hospital care, the hospitals would get completely swamped and become unable to provide care for any more people. So many loved ones - so many elderly people - have been lost due to the lack of available ventilators. This is a huge difference between us and other countries, where the medical capacity is a lot higher.
In general, the aid that was provided for northern parts of Syria to fight Covid-19 haven’t covered the needs. Not only that but some countries have already been able to acquire the vaccine that has a 98% success rate. We know that it is going to take a long time to reach us.
____
The situation in Syria is shocking. Lack of medical care, equipment and space is creating an almost impossible task for the responders on the pandemic frontline.
Please follow our friends at Violet Organisation, read about the life-saving work they do and make a donation if you can.
Violet Team - you have our support, always.
___
VIOLET ORGANISATION ON SOCIAL MEDIA
MP ALISON MCGOVERN SHARES STORIES OF FOR SAMA FAMILIES IN POWERFUL SPEECH ON SYRIA
Earlier this week MP Alison McGovern shared our story and messages to politicians, urging them to take action for Syrians.
SPEECH HIGHLIGHTS
“Regret about the past is not enough - we need action. And I want to provide a focus today on the war against humanity that is still raging. The intolerable lack of attention on Syrian children accounting for at least half of the refugees. And on how, even now, we as a United Kingdom can make a difference,” demands Alison.
It is in these moments, watching videos like is, when we feel like we have the world on our side, as Alison fights every day for the protection of Syrian civilians and for accountability of the war crimes committed. And her empathy shines through - she is listening. She is watching. In response to seeing Waad’s footage of Afraa reunited with her family, Alison shared with the room, “That short film shows what we can be, not just a safe haven for those running from terror, but a country that truly understands there are no greater love than the care we show for our children.”
We’re so grateful for Alison’s words and for her sharing them with those who can make a real difference. It makes us realise why it is so important to keep going. It encourages us to shout louder and fight harder.
Closing her speech, Alison addressed the Minister directly, “The first parts of repaying the debts we owe to the Syrian diaspora here in the UK is to listen to them. And I would ask the Minister how he plans to listen to Syrians here in the UK about how they see the future of their country.”
We hope that the Minister will listen. And we hope this video drives many others forward, to step up, speak out and and stand with us for our fight.
Alison and team, thank you.
FULL SPEECH
لكن الندم على الماضي ليس كافياً, نريد أفعالاً وأودّ أن أركّز اليوم على الحرب التي لا تزال مستمرة ضد الإنسانية عدم الإهتمام بشكل غير محتمل بالأطفال السوريين الذين يشكّلون نصف اللاجئين وعن كيف يمكن لنا كمملكة متحدة أن نصنع فرقاً” طالبت أليسفي هذه اللحظات وبمشاهدة هذه الفيديوهات نشعر أنّ العالم يقف معنا, تناضل أليسون بشكل يومي من أجل حماية السوريين المدنيين ومن أجل الوصول للمحاسبة حيال الجرائم المرتكبة, يظهر تعاطفها العميق بشكل واضح, تستمع بشكل جيد, تشاهد بشكل جيد, وبعد رؤية ما صوّرته وعد عن لم شمل عفراء مع عائلتها علّقت أليسون في كلمتها بالتالي “ الفيلم القصير يظهر ما يمكننا أن نكون, لا ملاذ آمن للهاربين من الرعب فحسب, بل بلداً يدرك بشكل جيد بأنه لا يوجد حب حقيقي كالرعاية التي نظهرها لأطفالنا” أليسون
ممتنّون جداً للكلمات التي قالتها أليسون ولمشاركتهن مع الأشخاص الذين يستطيعون تغيير الواقع هذا يخبرنا بأهمية متابعة النضال ويشجعنا على رفع أصواتنا والنضال بشكل أقوى
في ختام كلمتها, أليسون تحادث الوزير بشكل مباشر “أول خطوة لدفع الدين الذي ندينه للسوريين المهجرين هنا في المملكة المتحدة هو أن نستمع إليهم, وأرغب بسؤال الوزير كيف سيخطط للإستماع للسوريين هنا في المملكة المتحدة حول كيف يرون مستقبل بلادهم. أليسون
نأمل بأن يستمع الوزير, ونأمل بأن يقوم هذا الفيديو بتشجيع الآخرين أن يتحدّثوا بجرأة, ويقفوا معنا في نضالنا
شاهدوا هالكلمة القوية يلي ألتقها عضوة البرلمان البريطاني (أليسون ماكغوفرين) يلي حكت عن قصتنا, وحثّت السياسيين أنو يتحركوا ويعملوا شي للسوريين.
بهي اللحظات منشعر أنو العالم واقف معنا, وقت منشوف أليسون عم تناضل كل يوم من أجل حماية المدنيين السوريين, ومن أجل الوصول للعدالة عن الجرائم المرتكبة, عم توصل أصواتنا للناس يلي فعلاً بأيدها تعمل شي يغيّر الواقع, ومنتمنى أنو ناس تانية يشاركوها يلي عم تعملوا ويدعمونا
ممتنين جداً لأليسون وفريقها على العمل الرائع يلي عم يعملوه, عم يخلونا نتذكر ليش من المهم أنو نكمل نضالنا, وعم يحفّزونا أنو نعلّي صوتنا أكتر ونناضل بشكل أقوى
أليسون وفريقها, شكراً
No place for international human rights abuser Russia on the UN Human Rights Council
Action For Sama has joined with 40 organisations to demand that members of the Human Rights Council DO NOT allow Russia to take a place.
Read the joint letter below and add your voice by signing the petition.
Joint letter + Signatories
The United Nations General Assembly will elect new members for the Human Rights Council in October 2020. Russia is running in a closed slate together with Ukraine for two seats, virtually granting Russia a seat at the Human Rights Council without scrutiny and challenge.
The undersigned organizations call upon the UN Member States to not vote in favor of Russia as a message that human rights violations in a number of countries cannot go unpunished, and that Russia should not see its election and membership of the Human Rights Council as a reward to further impunity for the human rights violations committed in Syria, Ukraine, and Georgia.
UN General Assembly Resolution 60/251 asks that those voting for members of the Human Rights Council “take into account the contribution of candidates to the promotion and protection of human rights.” This guidance applies to candidates’ efforts to protect and promote human rights in their own countries and abroad. However, as referenced below, Russia’s actions in Syria, Ukraine, and Georgia stand in clear contrast to the Human Rights Council’s commitment to human rights.
The UN Member States should particularly take into consideration Russia’s indiscriminate attacks and war crimes in Syria and its ongoing efforts to prevent accountability for human rights violations in Syria; Russia’s occupation of Crimea and ongoing human rights violations in Crimea and the Donbas (Ukraine), Russia’s military invasion and occupation of Georgia’s two-breakaway territories, continued grave human rights violations against Georgian population in the occupied regions, and creeping borderization inside the Georgian territories.
Since the military intervention of Russia in Syria in 2015, Russian-Syrian military joint operations had committed indiscriminate attacks against civilians, protected sites, and civilian infrastructure in Aleppo1, Eastern Ghouta2, and Idlib3 in Syria. In March and July 2020, the UN Independent and International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic4 had found Russian forces directly responsible for war crimes in Idlib and provided further and detailed information on the role of Russia in committing war crimes and aiding the Syrian government in conducting airstrikes against civilians and the civilian population in Idlib5. It is shocking that a State found responsible for war crimes by an HRC investigation mechanism should be granted a seat in the same UN venue without scrutiny from the international community.
Protection of civilians in Syria and fulfillment of victims’ rights for justice have been averted by the continuous efforts of Russia to prevent impartial accountability for crimes in Syria, abusing its veto power and using it in contexts of war crimes and crimes against humanity (in defiance of the ACT Code of Conduct for the Responsibility to Protect6), for instance with a veto to refer Syria to the ICC in 20147, additionally using a veto to cancel a UN inquiry mechanism on the use and adjudication of responsibility for the use of chemical weapons in 20178 and more recently its withdrawal from the deconfliction mechanisms9 to protect hospitals, schools and other civilian infrastructure from indiscriminate attacks in Syria, and its veto on the cross-border humanitarian aid delivery authorization10.
Since occupying Crimea in 2014 Russia has pursued a policy of changing the peninsula’s demographic composition. This is being done, among other things, through illegal transfer of Russian citizens11 to the occupied territory of Crimea as well as through expulsion12 of representatives of Ukrainian, Crimean Tatar13 and other ethnicities that are opposed to the occupation. Arbitrary detentions, torture and interrogations of journalists and bloggers14 as well as systematic freedom of speech15 violations have become common practice for the occupying authorities.
In 2014 open hostilities broke out in eastern Ukraine against the militants of the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics, which are unofficially supported by Russia16 . Russia has been providing them17 with armaments and funds as well as carrying out political coordination of the republics’ actions, while Russian troops have been directly involved in the conflict18. The presence of Russian troops in Donbas indicates Russia’s involvement in an international armed conflict19. According to the UN, the number of victims has already reached 40 thousand (including 13 thousand killed)20. According to the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission’s report Human Rights in the Administration of Justice in Conflict-Related Criminal Cases in Ukraine April 2014 – April 202021 published on 27 August 2020, the most widespread violations in the temporarily occupied territories of Donbas and Crimea are abductions, torture22 and lack of effective legal remedies23.
In August 2008, Russian previous aggressive policy of supporting secessionist movements in Georgia’s two territories of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, climaxed into the military invasion and subsequent recognition of the two so called independent republics. This marked the first instance of forceful change of borders in Europe since World War II, in grave violation of international law and practice. The military actions against Georgian armed forces resulted in 408 immediate casualties and 20,000 displaced persons24. What is more, the subsequent steps on those territories have taken the form of effective ethnic cleansing, when the houses formerly owned by ethnic Georgians are being annihilated in an attempt to change the history and erase the past.25
Unfortunately, this human tragedy is not over and continues as we speak, with the Russian armed forces advancing further into the territory of Georgia, occupying houses, gardens and pastures of the local population, kidnapping them regularly and depriving them the possibility to visit the houses of worship and the cemeteries of their ancestors26. Those ethnic Georgians living beyond the occupation line – most of them ill or extremely old – are in even worse condition, with their daily lives heavily disrupted and gravely endangered.
Under UN General Assembly Resolution 60/251, which established the Human Rights Council, members elected to the council “shall uphold the highest standards in the promotion and protection of human rights” and “fully cooperate with the council.”
As part of its 2020 campaign for election to the Human Rights Council, in January 2020 Russia published a position paper27 with a pledge to “ensure the protection of human rights and freedoms under international law and in strict compliance by States with their international human rights obligations”. Russia’s ongoing cooperation with the Syrian government in indiscriminate attacks over the civilian population and attempts to prevent impartial accountability in Syria; its military occupation of Crimea and ongoing human rights violations in Crimea and Donbas (Ukraine),its occupation of Abkhazia and South Ossetia (Georgia) and ongoing human rights abuses against etnic Georgians, do not fulfill the terms of the pledge.
Electing Human Rights Council members that are truly committed to improve and respect human rights is the responsibility of each UN Member State as provided in Article 8 of the UNGA resolution 60/251. Russia will be granted a seat at the Human Rights Council only because of its candidacy in a closed slate context without the much-needed scrutiny and challenge.
The undersigned organizations call upon the UN Member States to not vote in favor of Russia, in order to send a clear message that human rights violators undermine the UN Human Rights Council and that they are not legitimate members of the Council.
Signatories
Action For Sama campaign
Atlantic Council of Georgia
Caesar Families Association
Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies
Center for Civil Liberties (Ukraine)
Dawlaty
Democratic Republic Studies Center
Educational Human Rights House Chernihiv (EHRHC)
Families for Freedom
Foundation to Restore Equality and Education in Syria
Fraternity Foundation for Human Rights (FFHR-Birati)
Human Rights Guardians
Human Rights House Chernihiv – Ukraine
Human Rights House Crimea
Human Rights House Tbilisi on behalf of its member organizations:
Georgian Centre for Psychosocial and Medical Rehabilitation of Torture Victims (GCRT)
Media Institute
Human Rights Center (HRIDC)
Rights Georgia
Sapari
Impunity Watch
Kawakbi Center for Transitional Justice and Human Rights
Media Development Foundation
Musawa
SHAML Syrian CSOs Coalition
Society and Banks
Syria Civil Defence (The White Helmets)
Syrian Lawyers Aggregation
Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR)
Syrian Women Political Movement
TEVNA KURDÎ
The Libyan Center for Freedom of Press
The National Commission on Detainees and Missing Persons
The Rehabilitation Centre for Victims of Torture EMPATHY
The Syria Campaign (TSC)
The Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression (SCM)
Transparency International Georgia (TI Georgia)
Tunisian Forum for Economic and Social Rights
Union of Medical Care and Relief Organizations (UOSSM)
Women Now for Development
World Experience for Georgia
Arabic version
يثير دور روسيا في انتهاكات حقوق الإنسان والإفلات من العقاب تساؤلات حول شرعية مقعد لها في مجلس حقوق الإنسان المستقبلي
رسالة مشتركة
05 تشرين أول/ أكتوبر 2020
سوف تنتخب الجمعية العامة للأمم المتحدة أعضاء جدد لمجلس حقوق الإنسان في تشرين الأول/ أكتوبر 2020. وتعمل روسيا مع أوكرانيا ضمن قائمة مغلقة لشغل مقعدين، ما يمنح روسيا فعلياً مقعداً في مجلس حقوق الإنسان دون تدقيق أو اعتراض.
تدعو المنظمات الموقعة أدناه الدول الأعضاء في الأمم المتحدة إلى عدم التصويت لصالح روسيا كرسالة مفادها أن انتهاكاتها لحقوق الإنسان في عدد من البلدان لا يمكن أن تمر دون عقاب، وأن انتخاب روسيا كعضو في مجلس حقوق الإنسان لا يعني أنه يمكنها الإفلات من العقاب على انتهاكاتها لحقوق الإنسان في سوريا وأوكرانيا وجورجيا وروسيا نفسها.
يطالب قرار الجمعية العامة للأمم المتحدة 60/251 بأن يأخذ المصوتون لأعضاء مجلس حقوق الإنسان “في حسبانهم مساهمة المترشحين في تعزيز حقوق الإنسان وحمايتها“. تنطبق هذه الإرشادات على جهود المرشحين لحماية وتعزيز حقوق الإنسان في بلدانهم وخارجها. ولكن تصرفات روسيا في سوريا وأوكرانيا وجورجيا تتناقض تماماً مع التزام مجلس حقوق الإنسان بحقوق الإنسان.
يجب على الدول الأعضاء في الأمم المتحدة أن تأخذ بعين الاعتبار، بشكل خاص، الهجمات العشوائية وجرائم الحرب الروسية في سوريا وجهودها المستمرة لمنع المحاسبة على انتهاكات حقوق الإنسان في سوريا؛ واستمرار الاحتلال الروسي لشبه جزيرة القرم والانتهاكات المستمرة لحقوق الإنسان في شبه جزيرة القرم ودونباس (أوكرانيا)، والغزو العسكري الروسي واحتلال الأراضي الجورجية، والانتهاكات الجسيمة لحقوق الإنسان ضد السكان الجورجيين في المناطق المحتلة، والزحف الحدودي داخل الأراضي الجورجية.
منذ التدخل العسكري الروسي في سوريا عام 2015، نفذت العمليات العسكرية الروسية–السورية المشتركة هجمات عشوائية ضد المدنيين والمواقع المحمية والبنية التحتية المدنية في حلب[1] والغوطة الشرقية[2] وإدلب[3] في سوريا. في آذار/ مارس وتموز/ يوليو 2020، وجدت لجنة التحقيق الدولية المستقلة التابعة للأمم المتحدة بشأن الجمهورية العربية السورية[4] أن القوات الروسية مسؤولة بشكل مباشر عن جرائم حرب في إدلب وقدمت معلومات إضافية ومفصلة عن دور روسيا في ارتكاب جرائم حرب ومساعدة الحكومة السورية في شن غارات جوية على المدنيين والسكان المدنيين في إدلب[5]. إنه لأمر مروع أن تُمنح دولة مسؤولة عن جرائم حرب من قبل آلية تحقيق تابعة لمجلس حقوق الإنسان، مقعداً في نفس المجلس دون تدقيق من المجتمع الدولي.
تمت عرقة حماية المدنيين في سوريا وإعمال حقوق الضحايا في العدالة من خلال الجهود المستمرة التي تبذلها روسيا لمنع آلية تحقيق مساءلة محايدة حول الجرائم في سوريا، وإساءة استخدام حق النقض (فيتو) واستخدامه في سياق جرائم الحرب والجرائم ضد الإنسانية في خرق لمدونة قواعد السلوك الخاصة بمسؤولية الحماية (ACT)[6]، على سبيل المثال تم استخدام حق النقض ضد مشروع إحالة سوريا إلى المحكمة الجنائية الدولية في عام 2014 [7]، بالإضافة إلى استخدام حق النقض لإلغاء آلية تحقيق تابعة للأمم المتحدة بشأن استخدام الأسلحة الكيماوية والفصل فيها في عام 2017 [8]، ومؤخراً انسحابها من آلية تحييد المرافق الإنسانية عن الصراع[9] لحماية المستشفيات والمدارس والبنية التحتية المدنية الأخرى من الهجمات العشوائية في سوريا، واستخدمت حق النقض ضد إذن إيصال المساعدات الإنسانية عبر الحدود[10].
منذ احتلالها شبه جزيرة القرم في عام 2014، اتبعت روسيا سياسة تغيير التركيبة السكانية لشبه الجزيرة. وتقوم بذلك من خلال النقل غير القانوني للمواطنين الروس[11] إلى الأراضي المحتلة لشبه جزيرة القرم من خلال التفجيرات[12]، وكذلك من خلال طرد المواطنين الأوكرانيين وتتار القرم[13] وغيرهم من الأعراق المعارضة للاحتلال. أصبحت عمليات الاعتقال التعسفي والتعذيب والاستجواب للصحفيين والمدونين[14]، فضلاً عن الانتهاكات المنهجية لحرية التعبير[15]، ممارسة شائعة لدى سلطات الاحتلال الروسية.
في عام 2014، اندلعت الأعمال العدائية المفتوحة في شرق أوكرانيا ضد مسلحي جمهوريتي دونيتسك ولوهانسك المعلنتين ذاتياً، واللتين تدعمهما روسيا بشكل غير رسمي[16]. كانت روسيا تزود المسلحين بالأسلحة والأموال[17]، فضلاً عن تنفيذ التنسيق السياسي لأعمال الجمهوريين، بينما تشارك القوات الروسية بشكل مباشر في الصراع[18]. يشير وجود القوات الروسية في دونباس إلى تورط روسيا في نزاع مسلح دولي[19]. وفقاً للأمم المتحدة، وصل عدد الضحايا بالفعل إلى 40 ألفاً (بينهم 13 ألف قتيل)[20]. وفقاً لتقرير بعثة مراقبة حقوق الإنسان التابعة للأمم المتحدة في إدارة العدل في القضايا الجنائية المتعلقة بالنزاع في أوكرانيا نيسان/ أبريل 2014 – نيسان/ أبريل 2020 المنشور في 27 آب/ أغسطس 2020 [21] ، فإن الانتهاكات الأكثر انتشاراً في الأراضي المحتلة مؤقتاً في دونباس وشبه جزيرة القرم هي عمليات الاختطاف[22]. والتعذيب والافتقار إلى سبل الانتصاف القانونية الفاعلة[23].
في آب/ أغسطس 2008، بلغت السياسة العدوانية الروسية السابقة لدعم الحركات الانفصالية في منطقتي أبخازيا وأوسيتيا الجنوبية في جورجيا ذروتها في الغزو العسكري والاعتراف اللاحق بما يسمى بالجمهوريتين المستقلتين. كان هذا أول مثال على تغيير الحدود بالقوة في أوروبا منذ الحرب العالمية الثانية، في انتهاك خطير للقانون والممارسات الدولية. أسفرت العمليات العسكرية ضد القوات المسلحة الجورجية عن 408 لقوا حتفهم بشكل فوري، وتهجير 20 ألف شخص، كما اتخذت الخطوات اللاحقة على تلك الأراضي شكل التطهير العرقي الفاعل[24]، حيث دمرت المنازل التي كانت مملوكة سابقاً لجورجيين في محاولة لتغيير التاريخ ومحو الماضي[25].
للأسف، هذه المأساة الإنسانية لم تنته ولا تزال مستمرة، حيث تتقدم القوات المسلحة الروسية في أراضي جورجيا، وتحتل منازل ومزارع ومراعي السكان المحليين، وتقوم بالخطف وتحرم النازحين من زيارة دور العبادة ومقابر أجدادهم. والجورجيون الذين يعيشون خارج خط الاحتلال[26] – معظمهم مرضى أو كبار السن – هم في حالة أسوأ، حيث تتعطل حياتهم اليومية بشدة وتتعرض لخطر شديد.
بموجب قرار الجمعية العامة للأمم المتحدة 60/251، الذي أنشئ بموجبه مجلس حقوق الإنسان، يجب على الأعضاء المنتخبين في المجلس “الالتزام بأعلى المعايير في تعزيز وحماية حقوق الإنسان” و“التعاون الكامل مع المجلس“.
كجزء من حملتها الانتخابية لعام 2020 لعضوية مجلس حقوق الإنسان، نشرت روسيا في كانون الثاني/ يناير 2020 ورقة موقف[27] تتضمن تعهداً “بضمان حماية حقوق الإنسان والحريات بموجب القانون الدولي والامتثال الصارم من قبل الدول لالتزاماتها الدولية في مجال حقوق الإنسان“. تعاون روسيا المستمر مع الحكومة السورية في الهجمات العشوائية على السكان المدنيين ومحاولات منع أي آلية مساءلة محايدة في سوريا؛ احتلالها العسكري لشبه جزيرة القرم، وانتهاكاتها المستمرة لحقوق الإنسان في شبه جزيرة القرم ودونباس (أوكرانيا)، واحتلالها لأبخازيا وأوسيتيا الجنوبية (جورجيا)، وانتهاكاتها المستمرة لحقوق الإنسان ضد الجورجيين، لا تفي بشروط تلك التعهدات.
إن انتخاب أعضاء مجلس حقوق الإنسان الملتزمين حقاً بتحسين حقوق الإنسان واحترامها هو مسؤولية كل دولة عضو في الأمم المتحدة على النحو المنصوص عليه في المادة 8 من قرار الجمعية العامة للأمم المتحدة 60/251. لن تُمنح روسيا مقعداً في مجلس حقوق الإنسان إلا بسبب ترشحها في سياق قائمة مغلقة دون أي تمحيص أو عوائق.
تدعو المنظمات الموقعة أدناه الدول الأعضاء في الأمم المتحدة إلى عدم التصويت لصالح روسيا، من أجل إرسال رسالة واضحة مفادها أن منتهكي حقوق الإنسان يقوضون مجلس حقوق الإنسان التابع للأمم المتحدة وأنهم ليسوا أعضاء شرعيين في المجلس.
المنظمات الموقعة:
اتحاد تنسيقيات السوريين حول العالم
اتحاد منظمات الرعاية الإغاثة الطبية
الحركة السياسية النسوية السورية
الخبرة العالمية من أجل جورجيا
الدفاع المدني السوري (الخوذ البيضاء)
الشبكة السورية لحقوق الإنسان (SNHR)
المجلس الأطلسي لجورجيا
المركز السوري للإعلام وحرية التعبير
المركز الليبي لحرية الصحافة
المنتدى التونسي للحقوق الاقتصادية والاجتماعية
الهيئة الوطنية للدفاع عن المعتقلين والمفقودين
تجمع المحامين السوريين
تحرك من أجل سما
تفنا كوردي
حُماة حقوق الإنسان
حملة من أجل سوريا
دار حقوق الإنسان في تشيرنيهيف – أوكرانيا
دولتي
رابطة عائلات قيصر
شمل تحالف منظمات المجتمع المدني السوري
عائلات من أجل الحرية
مؤسسة إعادة المساواة والتعليم في سوريا
مؤسسة التآخي Birati لحقوق الإنسان
مؤسسة تطوير الإعلام
مركز القاهرة لدراسات حقوق الإنسان
مركز الكواكبي للعدالة الانتقالية وحقوق الإنسان
مركز تأهيل ضحايا التعذيب (إمباثي) – جورجيا
مركز حقوق الإنسان
مركز دراسات الجمهورية الديمقراطية
مساواة
منظمة الشفافية الدولية – جورجيا
منظمة المجتمع والبنوك – جورجيا
منظمة مراقبة الإفلات من العقاب (إمبيونتي واتش)
النساء الآن من أجل التنمية
دار حقوق الإنسان في القرم – أوكرانيا
دار حقوق الإنسان في تبليسي ، نيابة عن المنظمات الأعضاء فيها:
المركز الجورجي لإعادة التأهيل النفسي والاجتماعي والطبي لضحايا التعذيب (GCRT)
معهد الإعلام
مركز حقوق الإنسان (HRIDC)
حقوق جورجيا
ساباري.
يمكنكم/ن التوقيع على العريضة هنا
References:
HRW, “Russia/Syria: War Crimes in Month of Bombing Aleppo: UN General Assembly Should Organize Emergency Special Session” (December 1, 2016)
HRW, “Russia/Syria: Airstrikes, Siege Killing Civilians: Allow Urgent Aid Into Besieged Eastern Ghouta and End Indiscriminate Attacks” (December 22, 2017)
Amnesty International, “Nowhere Is Safe For Us: Unlawful Attacks and Mass Displacement in North-West Syria”, (May 2020)
Report of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic, A/HRC/43/57 (January 2020)
Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic, “Special Inquiry Into Events in Idlib and Surrounding Areas – Attacks Impacting Civilians and Civilian Infrastructure (November 2019- May 2020)
Responsibility to Protect, “The ACT of Conduct”
HRW, “UN Security Council Vetoes Betray Syrian Victims: In Face of Mounting Pressure, Russia, China Block ICC Referral”, (May 12, 2014)
The Guardian, “Russia uses veto to end UN investigation of Syria chemical attacks”, (October 24, 2020)
Reuters, “Russia quits U.N. system aimed at protecting hospitals, aid in Syria” (June 25, 2020)
Reuters, “Russia, China veto U.N. approval of aid deliveries to Syria from Turkey” (July 8, 2020)
RCHR, UHHRU, CHROT, the thematic review of the human rights situation under occupation “Crimea beyond rules”: Transfer by the Russian Federation of parts of its own civilian population into the occupied territory of Ukraine
RCHR, UHHRU, CHROT, the research of Special issue of the thematic review “Crimea beyond rules”: Forcible Expulsion of the Civilian Population from the Occupied Territory by Russia
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. Resolution 2198, Humanitarian consequences of the war in Ukraine (2018)
CHRG, Сhronology of pressing the freedom of speech in Сrimea
RCHR, UHHRU, CHROT, the thematic review of the human rights situation under occupation “Crimea beyond rules” Issue No 4 Information occupation
The BBC, “Russian soldiers ‘dying in large numbers’ in Ukraine – Nato”, (March 5, 2015)
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. Resolution 2198, Humanitarian consequences of the war in Ukraine (2018)
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. Resolution 2214, Humanitarian needs and rights of internally displaced persons in Europe (2018)
ICC, The Office of the Prosecutor, Report on Preliminary Examination Activities (2019)
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Report on the human rights situation in Ukraine 16 November 2018 to 15 February 2019
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Report on Human Rights in the Administration of Justice in Conflict-Related Criminal Cases in Ukraine April 2014 – April 2020
UHHRU, RCHR, MIHR, Alternative report for the UN Committee against Torture 64th session «REVIEW OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION COMPLIANCE WITH THE CONVENTION AGAINST TORTURE AND OTHER CRUEL, INHUMANE AND DEGRADING TREATMENT OR PUNISHMENT»
EHRH, RCHR, RCHRights (CReDO), UHHRU, HRF «Public Alternative», HRIC, Report “Crimean Process: Observance of Fair Trial Standards in Politically Motivated Cases”
IDFI, Information Regarding the 2008 August War Between Russia and Georgia, (7 August 2015)
https://russianoccupation.ge/
Transparency International Georgia, Transparency International Georgia is filing an application with ECHR against Russia to protect property rights of 11 individuals (12 August 2016)
Candidacy of the Russian Federation for election to the United Nations Human Rights Council for 2021-2023 (January 29, 2020)
Join the new campaign - #donotsuffocatetruth
بكرا, 21 آب بالذكرى السابعة لهجوم الكيماوي على الغوطة الشرقية, أنا وبناتي رح نشارك بحملة مناصرة رح تصير سنوياً, للحديث عن هجمات النظام السوري بالسلاح الكيماوي على سوريا
#لا_تخقنوا_الحقيقة
منتمنى تكونو قادرين تشاركو معنا بالحملة عن طريق الخطوات التالية
وعد
#DONOTSUFFOCATETRUTH
اضغط على الصورة لتحميل تصميم الوردة
CLICK ON THE IMAGE TO DOWNLOAD THE FLOWER DESIGN
رح نبدأ هالسنة بيوم 21 آب طقس سنوي نوزع فيه وردة صفرا بكل مكان متواجدين فيه نحن السوريين مع ورقة بتحكي عن مجازر الكيماوي
قبل سبع سنين وتحديداً بيوم ٢١ آب ٢٠١٣ صحينا على خبر جريمة الكيماوي بالغوطة الشرقية، وكانت صدمة كبيرة النا كسوريين وجرح عميق ما بينتسى
كتيرين خسروا أحبابهن وأصدقائهن وعوائلهم، شفنا صور وفيديوهات لأشخاص من كل الأعمار توفوا وهنن عم يحلموا ببكرا أحلى
تخليداً لذكرى ضحايا جريمة الكيماوي ولنأكد على انو هالجريمة مارح تنتسى وانو رح نبقى مصرين لتحقيق العدالة ومحاسبة المجرمين. منطلب منكن تقوموا بطباعة هالوردة الصفرا الموجودة بالتصميم المرفق
بلغة البلد اللي انتو فيها وتوزعوها مع الورقة المرفقة بهالتصميم بالرابط
ممكن يكون التوزيع بجامعاتنا أو المولات أو محطات الميترو وأي مكان تاني منقدر نعمل هالشي فيه ببلدان إقامتنا
بالختام منتمنى الالتزام أثناء توزيع الدبابيس بلبس الكمامات ووضع الدبابيس بأكياس صغيرة مع الحفاظ على شروط المسافة الإجتماعية، لسلامتكم وسلامة الجميع
#لا_تخنقوا_الحقيقة
#donotsuffocatetruth
Tomorrow, on the seven year anniversary of the horrendous chemical attacks in Eastern Ghouta, me and my children will be joining in solidarity with a new annual campaign to shed the light on the use of chemical weapons in Syria, #donotsuffocatetruth.
We hope you can join us,
Waad x
We will start an annual ritual this year on August 21 in which we will distribute a yellow rose in every place where we Syrians are present, with a paper document sharing information about chemical massacres.
Seven years ago, on August 21, 2013, we were informed of the news of the chemical crime in Eastern Ghouta, and it was a great shock for people as Syrians and a deep wound for what they wanted.
Many people have lost their loved ones, friends and families. We have seen pictures and videos of people of all ages who have passed away dreaming of a better virgin.
This campaign is in memory of the victims of the chemical crime, and to let us confirm that this crime will not be forgotten, and that we will remain determined to achieve justice and hold criminals accountable. We ask you to print the yellow rose in the attached design.
Please distribute this with the attached design sheet in the link.
You can distribute in our universities, malls, metro stations, and any other place that will work in your country of residence.
In conclusion, I wish to adhere to when distributing the pins by wearing masks and putting the pins in small bags while maintaining the terms of social distance, for your safety and the safety of everyone.
