A/HRC/21/32
despite the efforts of the United Nations Supervision Mission in the Syrian Arab Republic
(UNSMIS) to support the parties to de-escalate the crisis. He reported that human rights
violations continued, and that violence by Government forces had intensified, while antiGovernment armed groups had declared that they would not respect the demand for the
cessation of hostilities and intensified their attacks. On 30 June, in Geneva, the Joint
Special Envoy convened a meeting of the Action Group for Syria consisting of the
Secretaries-General of the United Nations and the League of Arab States, the European
Union, the five permanent Members of the Security Council, as well as other countries with
influence over the parties to the conflict. In its communiqué of 30 June 2012, the Action
Group renewed the commitment to the six-point plan proposed by the Joint Special Envoy
and set out principles and guidelines for a Syrian-led political transition.
C.
United Nations Supervision Mission in the Syrian Arab Republic
7.
It should be recalled that, following the announcement of the cessation of armed
violence, brokered by the United Nations, that came into effect across the country on 12
April 2012, the Security Council authorized, in its resolution 2043 (2012), the deployment
of UNSMIS. The Mission was deployed for an initial period of 90 days to monitor the
cessation of armed violence in all its forms by all parties, and to monitor and support the
full implementation of the six-point plan endorsed by the Security Council in resolution
2042 (2012). By 30 May 2012, UNSMIS was fully operational, and worked actively in
support of all aspects of the six-point plan, while monitoring and supervising the cessation
of violence.
8.
In late May 2012, violence sharply increased throughout the country. The escalation
of violence affected directly and indirectly UNSMIS observers and ultimately impeded the
implementation of their mandated activities. On 15 June, UNSMIS temporarily suspended
its operations owing to the increase in violence, the obstacles to monitoring the situation on
the ground, and the direct targeting of its personnel and assets. UNSMIS resumed limited
activities, subject to security conditions, on 26 June 2012. The Mission undertook visits to
hospitals and schools in order to monitor, observe and report on the impact of the violence
on the civilian population and to assess medical protection and humanitarian access.
9.
On 20 July 2012, when the initial 90-day mandate of UNSMIS expired, the Security
Council unanimously adopted resolution 2059 (2012), in which it renewed the mandate of
the Mission for a final period of 30 days. The Council indicated that further renewals would
be possible only if it could be confirmed that the use of heavy weapons had ceased and a
reduction in violence by all parties was sufficient to permit UNSMIS to implement its
mandate.
III. Information from the Government of the Syrian Arab
Republic and its position with regard to Human Rights
Council resolution 19/22
10.
On 1 June 2012, OHCHR addressed, on my behalf, a note verbale to the Permanent
Mission of the Syrian Arab Republic requesting information on any measures taken or
envisaged by the Government to implement Human Rights Council resolution 19/22. On
the request of the Permanent Mission, the submission deadline for that information was
extended by one month, namely, until 11 July 2012. On 16 July 2012, the Permanent
Mission addressed a note verbale to OHCHR providing it with information relating to
resolution 19/22.
5
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