Subcommittee on International Human Rights of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development

Sous-comité des droits internationaux de la personne du Comité permanent des affaires étrangères et du développement international

For immediate release

Ottawa, November 01, 2016 -

On 1 November 2016, the Subcommittee held an emergency meeting on the humanitarian situation in Aleppo, Syria.

During the emergency meeting, the Subcommittee received troubling testimony confirming that the 5,000-year-old metropolis of Aleppo – once Syria’s economic engine, could be completely destroyed by the end of the year and that, amidst this destruction, 275,000 civilians, including 100,000 children, are besieged in eastern Aleppo. After hearing testimony, the Subcommittee adopted the following motion:

The people of Aleppo are living out a human catastrophe which shocks the conscience. The Subcommittee is deeply troubled by the plight of the people of eastern Aleppo, who, used as human shields by a small number of Islamic extremists led by Jabhat Fateh Al-Sham (formerly Jabhat Al-Nusrah), are indiscriminately attacked by the Government of Syria and its backers, including Russia. The Subcommittee condemns the Government’s use of indiscriminate and deadly weapons such as barrel bombs, cluster munitions, and bunker-busting bombs and the targeting of schools, apartment blocks, bakeries and water pumping stations. Most appalling is the intentional targeting of hospitals, medical facilities, rescue workers and humanitarian convoys, including those of the United Nations and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent. Authorities report that fewer than 30 doctors are left in Aleppo, working in a handful of partially-functioning medical facilities. The Subcommittee salutes the heroic work of medical personnel, rescue workers and humanitarian personnel who continue to risk their lives to save the lives of others.

Intentional attacks on civilians, hospitals and medical workers are war crimes. If there was intent to commit them as part of a widespread or systematic attack against civilians, they would also amount to crimes against humanity. The perpetrators of these violations must be swiftly and decisively held accountable. The Subcommittee therefore affirms the recent decision of the UN Human Rights Council to investigate and identify perpetrators of war crimes in Aleppo.

The Subcommittee notes with dismay the failure of the UN Security Council to exercise its responsibility to maintain peace and security and to protect the civilians of Aleppo.

The Subcommittee is encouraged by recent Canadian-led efforts to engage the UN General Assembly in calling for an end to unlawful attacks against civilians and humanitarian workers in Aleppo. The Subcommittee urges Canada to increase its efforts with the international community to use all means available to allow humanitarian relief to reach Aleppo, to end the siege of Aleppo, and to hold parties accountable for violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law. To that end, this Subcommittee urges the Government of Canada to:

i. engage other members of the International Syria Support Group to promote the establishment of humanitarian corridors to Aleppo, to promote initiatives supporting Syrian medical and rescue personnel, and to encourage cessation of hostilities agreements both locally and nationally;

ii. consider re-establishing the Syrian Emergency Relief Fund or an equivalent to match Canadian donations to assist humanitarian partners on the ground in Syria who are working to deliver humanitarian aid to Aleppo, with a focus on basic food, clean water, medical equipment or supplies required by civilian rescue teams;

iii. use all appropriate channels to protect and advocate for Canada’s humanitarian partners to ensure that humanitarian staff on the ground are allowed to do their work and can work in safety;

iv. through the International Syria Support Group and other venues, promote the return to United Nations – mediated negotiations in Geneva between the Syrian Government and the Opposition;

v. continue to engage with the international community, including through the United Nations General Assembly, to hold relevant parties accountable for possible war crimes and crimes against humanity;

vi. call upon the UN Security Council to acknowledge it’s lack of action to maintain international peace and security in accordance with the principles and purposes of the United Nations and request that it undertake urgent life-saving measures for the citizens of Aleppo;

vii. actively enforce, evaluate and consider enhancing existing Canadian sanctions against Syria and its backers, while ensuring that the provision of humanitarian aid to Syrians is not affected by the sanctions regulations.

The Subcommittee is mindful that the situation in Aleppo is emblematic of the destruction and chaos wrought by war throughout Syria and the region. Canada, now home to 32,000 Syrian refugees, must remain a reliable partner in bringing peace to Syria and supporting Syrians as they rebuild their lives.

• Quotes:

• “The situation in Aleppo is an unparalleled crisis in the Syrian Civil War: the absolute disregard for human rights is criminal, and a humanitarian tragedy. While the UN Security Council has failed to uphold its obligation to maintain international peace and security, we applaud Canada and other like-minded states’ efforts to end this crisis and ensure accountability. The indiscriminate and disproportional attacks by all parties – particularly the Assad regime and its backers, including Russia – on civilians, hospitals, and humanitarian relief must end immediately. All possible war crimes, crimes against humanity, and other violations of international humanitarian law must be investigated, and those responsible must be held to account.”

-Michael Levitt, MP, Chair, Subcommittee on International Human Rights of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development

• “The challenges facing Syria are complex and there are no quick solutions to this nation wrought by war. In this dark time facing Aleppo, my deepest gratitude goes to medical, humanitarian and rescue workers who continue to risk their lives to deliver much needed assistance. However, Canada along with the international community must immediately be seized with delivering security for the civilians of Aleppo.”

-David Sweet, MP, Vice-Chair, Subcommittee on International Human Rights of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development

• “The repeated and systematic targeting of hospitals and the innocents being treated within them, as well as the use of human shields, are war crimes that cannot be allowed to stand. If international humanitarian law – indeed, the laws governing war – is to continue to have any meaning, then those who are responsible must be brought to justice. More urgent, the blocking of humanitarian assistance must be stopped. If the international community does not come together now and address this dire situation, the judgment of history, and of the generations to come, will rightly be severe.

”-Cheryl Hardcastle, MP, Vice-Chair, Subcommittee on International Human Rights of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development