Ambassador Lisa Carty
U.S. Representative to the Economic and Social Council
New York, New York
November 16, 2022
AS DELIVERED
Thank you very much, Chair. The United States is proud to introduce and sponsor the resolution on the human rights situation in Syria on behalf of the core group. We thank the core group for productive negotiations and all of the co-sponsors for their support on this important annual resolution.
It has been more than 11 years since the beginning of the Syrian uprising. Daily, sporadic violence continues, with Syrian civilians caught in the crossfire. Yet, here in New York at the UN, there are some who want to pretend that the conflict is over. But we all know this cannot be further from the truth.
This resolution highlights the repeated use of chemical weapons and aerial bombardments striking civilian infrastructure. Syrians have faced and continue to endure trauma, including from extrajudicial killings, torture, disappearances, and unjust detentions. Syrians also face pervasive sexual and gender-based violence.
We welcome the UN Secretary General’s recent report on the missing. We support its recommendation that that measures to address the missing must be coherent, inclusive and centered around victims and family members. Despite the immense suffering experienced, Syrian families and civil society groups continue to provide critical assistance to survivors and to advocate for justice.
The resolution rightly continues to place Syria on the UN General Assembly agenda and calls for continued attention to the critical issue of detainees and missing persons early in 2023 in the General Assembly.
This year’s text also includes strengthened language on women and girls, including that they have been disproportionately affected by the conflict and on the importance of their full, equal, and meaningful participation in decision-making and leadership roles.
The resolution also highlights the dire humanitarian situation and calls for unhindered humanitarian aid. The resolution calls upon the Security Council to reauthorize the cross-border humanitarian mechanism in January 2023 for at least 12 months.
We urge all delegations to support this resolution. We urge you to stand with us against the brutal atrocities in Syria and remind the world that the Syrian conflict persists. We urge you to stand with the brave Syrian human rights defenders and families of the unjustly detained and missing.
Thank you, Chair.
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