U.S. Statement on the Syrian Arab Republic at the Universal Periodic Review 40th Session
January 24, 2022
As delivered by Ambassador Crocker, Amb. to the United Nations in Geneva
The United States remains appalled by the human rights situation in Syria. We reiterate our recommendations from 2016 on which we have seen no progress:
1. To cease violence against civilians immediately and enter good faith negotiations on a political solution to the conflict;
2. To grant unhindered access for humanitarian assistance, including to besieged and hard-to-reach areas; and
3. To cease egregious abuses against prisoners; allow for immediate, unhindered access to and medical services for all detainees; and release Syrians who have been arbitrarily imprisoned and held without trial.
The UN Syria Commission of Inquiry has documented a worsening human rights situation due to targeted killings, arbitrary detention, enforced disappearances, siege-like tactics that may rise to collective punishment, hostage-taking, and torture.
The government’s continued flagrant violations and abuses flout efforts by the international community to broker a political solution to the conflict. We call for an immediate end to all violations and abuses by the Assad regime.