A/HRC/RES/26/23 calls upon the Syrian authorities to accelerate the complete and irreversible elimination of their chemical weapons programme, of which several important elements remain, in accordance with their obligations under the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction and the time frames and requirements set forth in Security Council resolution 2118 (2013) of 27 September 2013, and the decisions of the Executive Council of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons; 14. Expresses deep concern at the recent allegations of the use of toxic chemicals in the Syrian Arab Republic, supports the fact-finding mission of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons to investigate these allegations, strongly condemns the recent attack against inspectors of the Organization, and demands that safe and unfettered access for the said mission be ensured throughout the Syrian Arab Republic; 15. Demands that the Syrian authorities meet their responsibility to protect the Syrian population; 16. Notes the reporting of the commission of inquiry, including on the amount and type of crimes committed, in which it assesses that crimes against humanity and war crimes have been, and continue to be, committed in the territory of the Syrian Arab Republic; 17. Also notes that the International Criminal Court was established to help end impunity for such crimes where the State is unwilling or unable to genuinely carry out investigations or prosecutions; 18. Emphasizes the need to ensure that all those responsible for violations of international humanitarian law or violations and abuses of human rights law are held to account, through appropriate fair and independent domestic or international criminal justice mechanisms, and stresses the need to pursue practical steps towards this goal, noting the important role that the International Criminal Court can play in this regard; 19. Reaffirms that, in the context of an inclusive and credible dialogue, the Syrian people should determine the appropriate process and mechanisms to achieve justice, reconciliation, truth and accountability for gross violations and abuses of international law, as well as reparations and effective remedies for victims; 20. Expresses grave concern at the spread of extremism and extremist groups, and strongly condemns all human rights abuses and violations of international humanitarian law in the Syrian Arab Republic; 21. Condemns all violence, irrespective of where it comes from, and calls upon all parties to immediately put an end to all forms of violence, including terrorist acts and acts of violence or intimidation that may foment sectarian tensions, and to comply strictly with their obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law; 22. Strongly condemns all violence against persons based on their religious or ethnic affiliation, and calls upon all parties to fully respect international law; 23. Expresses its deep regret that international efforts to find a political solution to the Syrian crisis have not so far succeeded and condemns those parties who have undermined such efforts; 24. Reaffirms its commitment to international efforts to find a political solution to the Syrian crisis that meets the legitimate aspirations of the Syrian people for a civil, democratic and pluralistic State, where all citizens are equal, regardless of gender, religion and ethnicity, and emphasizes that the decision to hold presidential elections on 3 June 2014, in the midst of this crisis, undermined the Geneva communiqué, which calls for a 3