Ambassador Ali Ahmed: Coercive unilateral measures have a negative impact on human rights and should be put to an end immediately

Geneva (ST): Syria’s permanent representative to the United Nations Office and international organizations in Geneva, Ambassador Haider Ali Ahmed, affirmed that the coercive unilateral measures imposed on many countries have a negative impact on basic human rights, and therefore they should be put to an end immediately without any restriction or condition.

Ali Ahmed said in a statement delivered today before the Human Rights Council on behalf of a group of countries regarding the lifting of all coercive unilateral measures: “The celebration of the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the 30th anniversary of the Vienna Declaration and Program of Action is an opportunity to renew commitments to achieving the promotion of universal respect for and observance of human rights.”

Ali Ahmed added: “The establishment of a just international order based on the principles of the United Nations Charter promotes the full realization of the rights and freedoms stipulated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and therefore states must implement their obligations and responsibilities related to observing the principles and rules of international law and the United Nations Charter in addition to promoting pluralism, international cooperation and solidarity to create a genuine environment of universal respect for human rights.”

Ali Ahmed stressed that the illegal practice of imposing coercive unilateral measures is contrary to this spirit, and denies the recognition of the inherent human dignity of all and their enjoyment of equal and inalienable rights.

Ali Ahmed pointed out that this inhumane approach of using livelihoods and basic commodities such as food and medicine as a tool of coercion and political and economic pressure has far-reaching effects on the human rights of the general population in the targeted countries, and particularly affects the poor and the most vulnerable.

The delegate of Syria stressed that the long-term and multi-layered coercive unilateral measures stifle the population of the targeted countries, isolating them from the means necessary to realize and enjoy their human rights and achieve development in all its manifestations.

He added “The deliberate human suffering caused by these measures is exacerbated in health emergencies and natural disasters to directly threaten the right to life among other basic human rights, and the profound challenges posed by these measures deprive targeted countries of the essential means to achieve response and recovery appropriately, undermining the environment for international cooperation that is so needed in such cases, and leaving humanitarian actors to grapple with complex challenges, including those related to over-compliance with these measures and risk-reduction policies, while the so-called “humanitarian exceptions” promoted by countries imposing these measures are ineffective and unenforceable.”

Ali Ahmed went on to say: “Policies of excessive compliance, risk reduction, secondary penalties and other means of enforcing coercive unilateral measures continue to amplify their negative effects, and expand their regional and substantive scope, and we urge all states to take all possible measures to eliminate these practices, including by ensuring that companies under their jurisdiction comply with their human rights obligations, especially those working in the field of life-saving medicines.

K.Q.