Denmark yesterday signed a UN Security Council resolution that would refer the situation in Syria to the International Criminal Court (ICC) at The Hague.
France proposed the resolution to the Security Council and around 60 nations, including Denmark as part of a unanimous EU, and over 100 non-governmental organisations signed up.
”We completely back up a referral to the situation in Syria to the ICC,” Martin Lidegaard, the foreign minister, said in a press release.
“Shooting civilians, torture and the use of chemical weapons have led to serious suspicions that war crimes have been committed.”
Over 160,000 killed, 2.7 million refugees, 6.5 million internally displaced and over 9 million people in need of aid are numbers that clearly convey the catastrophe taking place in Syria at the moment, according to Lidegaard.
“I want to underline that all war crimes – no matter which side of the conflict they have been committed – must be investigated,” Lidegaard said.
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Russia and China say no
But the effort was in vain after Russia and China vetoed the resolution draft later in the day citing that it was only a “publicity stunt” and would prevent efforts aimed at ending the three-year conflict in the country.
It is the fourth time that Russia and China have laid down vetoes in the UN Security Council in connection with the war in Syria, and their actions drew the ire of human rights organisations such as Human Rights Watch.
“Moscow and Beijing can veto a resolution, but they can’t suppress the desire for justice by the Syrian people and the dozens of governments that stood for their rights,” Richard Dicker, the international justice director at Human Rights Watch, said in a press release.
“With the Syrian crisis entering a fourth year, atrocities raging on all sides, and the death toll skyrocketing well over 150,000, Russia and China’s vote for continued impunity is a disgrace.”
