NGOWG June MAP

The NGO Working Group on Women, Peace and Security has released the June 2012 version of their Monthly Action Points (MAP) on Women, Peace and Security for the UN Security Council.

For June, in which China has the Security Council presidency, the MAP provides recommendations on country and regional situations including: Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Libya, Syria, and West Africa. The MAP also provides recommendations regarding the expected discussion of the Protection of Civilians.

The following is the June 2012 MAP's recommendation on Syria:

The violence in Syria continues to worsen as the civilian population continues to be killed, tortured, and their rights violated, including through ongoing arbitrary arrests and detentions. In its discussion on the situation in Syria, the Security Council should ensure the Syrian government fully cooperates with the United Nations Supervision Mission in Syria (UNSMIS) to implement the joint six-point plan. We again ask the Security Council to impose an arms embargo on Syria; to impose targeted sanctions against Syrian leaders implicated in human rights violations, following a fair and transparent process; and to refer the situation in Syria to the International Criminal Court. Member States of the United Nations, including Members of the Security Council, should ensure they immediately cease any and all military sales and assistance. The Security Council should ensure there is a strong human rights monitoring component in UNSMIS, which must include gender expertise. This component should be well resourced and equipped to ensure victims of human rights abuses, including women, are protected from retaliation. These experts should be in a position to recognize people who are arbitrarily detained, protect interviewees from retaliation, ensure the confidentiality and safekeeping of interviews, and interview women who have been sexually abused and children who have been tortured.