China, Russia veto UN resolution to refer Syria to ICC

United Nations: Russia and China today vetoed a UN Security Council resolution to refer Syria to the International Criminal Court for the horrific crimes committed during the course of the three-year civil war in the country.  The resolution came amid repeated appeals by senior United Nations officials for accountability for crimes being committed in the war-torn nation.

It was backed by the 13 members of the powerful Council apart from China and Russia and if passed it would have given the ICC mandate to investigate the horrific crimes committed during the course of the conflict in Syria.  The conflict in Syria since March 2011 has witnessed the deaths of over 100,000 civilians, the displacement of millions and widespread violations of human rights. 

“The Syrian people have a fundamental right to justice.  The United Nations and its Member States have a fundamental duty to defend that right,” Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson said in remarks delivered on behalf of Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon prior to the vote. 

“Since the outbreak of the war in Syria, I have persistently called for accountability for perpetrators of grave human rights violations, crimes against humanity and war crimes. The recent attacks against humanitarian convoys and personnel, which may constitute war crimes, add to the urgent need to see action now on accountability in Syria,” he said.