Nations Seek Further Action Against Syria

Recent reports said, “a group of Western and Arab nations are seeking the expulsion of Syria from the U.N. cultural agency’s human rights committee.” The U.N. Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) elected Syria to two panels in November, including one that judges human rights violations. A letter, signed by 14 ambassadors, was sent to the executive board of UNESCO and read, ”the situation in Syria challenges UNESCO’s basic constitutional objectives, in particular to further respect for justice, for the law and for human rights and fundamental freedoms.” There is a proposal that Syria be expelled from the committee altogether, which would mark the first time UNESCO would remove a member. The executive board is expected to discuss the proposal over several meetings in the coming weeks.

Meanwhile, several analysts have spoken out regarding the situation in Syria. Kate Seelye, the vice president of the Middle East Institute in Washington, DC, said that Russia is the key player in moving things forward. She emphasized the importance of the Arab League terminating the mission and referring the matter to the U.N. Security Council. However, in recognizing Russia’s reluctance to sign any proposals imposing sanctions against Syria, she said that “[Russia] must also be cognizant that Syria is descending into a civil war… The Arab League and the Syrian opposition, therefore, should persuade Moscow to change its position … [and] offer Russia reassurances that its interests will be taken into account in any future Syrian government.”