By IANS,
Geneva: Russia, China and Cuba voted against the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) resolution Friday which unilaterally condemned the Syrian government. However, India, Philippines and Uganda abstained from voting, reported Xinhua.
While a total of 41 member states voted in favour of the UN resolution, India, Philippines and Uganda abstained.
The resolution, tabled by the US, strongly condemned “the widespread, systematic and gross violations of human rights; acts of violence; ongoing atrocities; and indiscriminate targeting of civilians by the Syrian authorities.”
It also condemned “the human rights violations and crimes that members of the government-controlled militia ‘Shabiha’ continue to commit against the Syrian people”.
Russia proposed to include the sentence of “strongly condemns all terrorist acts in Syria” in the text, but was rejected by the Human Rights Council, according to a media update sent by the council.
China said the resolution was neither balanced nor objective. It would do no good to help resolve the human rights issues in Syria, instead would possibly intensify the confrontation among parties in Syria, making the political process of Syria more complicated.
The 20th regular session of the Human Rights Council was held from June 18 to July 6.
The 21st session will be held from Sept. 10 to 28 during which the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Syria, mandated by the council, is expected to deliver its final report.