WCA to UN Commision on Syria and HRC: End YPG’s Kurdification of Northeast Syria
On 19 September 2016, WCA once again addressed the Interactive Dialogue with the UN Commission of inquiry on Syria at the 33rd Regular Session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva. The first key message was to recognize, stop, punish and prevent acts of genocide committed by ISIS against Syria’s vulnerable minorities, such as the Arameans and Yazidis.
WCA submits statement to COI on Syria
On 15 March 2016, the interactive dialogue with the Commission of Inquiry (COI) on the Syrian Arab Republic commenced. During this segment of the 31st Session of the UN Human Rights Council, states, NGOs and other stakeholders were invited to share their statements on the situation in the country. The WCA presented the COI and the Members of the Human Rights Council the statement below.
Call to support Aramean survival in Turkey
Six Recommendations to Turkey unaddressed by the UPR Report
With Turkey's native Aramean people facing extinction in the country, the World Council of Arameans (Syriacs) took the opportunity once more to stress the gravity of their situation during the UPR outcome on Turkey. The WCA again voiced its constructive recommendations to the Turkish government, which aim to ensure the implementation of minority rights in accordance with international law.
WCA to Human Rights Council: recognize and support Arameans of Syria and Iraq
Geneva, 23 June 2016
Continuing the general debate under item four of the Human Rights Council Session, a number of NGOs, including the World Council of Arameans (Syriacs), took the floor to address the dire situation of the vulnerable minorities in the Middle East.
Human Rights Council: Create UN Fund for Threatened Indigenous Peoples of Middle East
On 22 September 2015, the 30th Session of the Human Rights Council continued its session with a clustered interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on Indigenous Peoples and the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. After addressing the UN Commission on Inquiry on Syria the day before, the WCA called specific attention for the neglected question of the Middle East’s most ancient indigenous people, the Arameans and their dying Aramaic language.
In her statement, the WCA’s Main Delegate to the UN, emphasized the urgent need for a UN Fund for Threatened Indigenous Peoples of the Middle East. This can guarantee the survival of the region’s native inhabitants who are not on the agenda of the UN Indigenous Peoples mechanisms.
Arameans reflect on dire position in Turkey in wake of the Ottoman Genocide centennial
After the UPR outcome on Turkey, on Friday 26 June 2015, the WCA held a side-event at the UN Office in Geneva, titled “The Arameans of Turkey: The Disappearance of a People.” Emphasizing the struggle for survival of Turkey's native Aramean people, the event was well received by the attending UN Member States and NGOs. Click here or on the photos below for a short video compilation.
UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria recognizes genocide by ISIS
Geneva, 21 June 2016
On 21 June 2016, the UN Human Rights Council continued its 32nd Session of the interactive dialogue with the Commission of Inquiry (COI) on the Syrian Arab Republic. With the presentation of its report, titled “'They came to destroy': ISIS Crimes Against the Yazidis” (15 June 2015), the COI argued that ISIS is guilty of genocide against the Yazidis and called upon the UN Security Council to refer this case to the International Criminal Court (ICC) “or to establish an ad hoc tribunal with relevant geographic and temporal jurisdiction.”
WCA to UN Syria Commission in Geneva: Stop dancing around issue, time for new approach
On Monday, 21 September 2015, the WCA was the first of 10 NGOs that were given the opportunity to speak about Syria at the United Nations in Geneva during the 30th Session of the Human Rights Council under Agenda item 4, Interactive Dialogue with the Independent Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic; for earlier meetings with the Commission, see here (18 March 2015), here (18 June 2014), here (18 March 2014) and here (17 Sept. 2013).
Concerned about the disappearance of Syria's vulnerable minorities, and thus of the pluralistic character of Syrian society, the WCA implored the Commission to consider two critical but underreported issues. Due to time constraints, we could not focus on the hundreds of Aramean Christians held hostage by Islamic State and other militant Muslims, incl. two Archbishops from Aleppo since 22 April 2013, over 200 Arameans from the Assyrian Church of the East since mid-February 2015 from the Hasakah Province and 255 Arameans from the Syriac Orthodox since 7 August 2015 from the Homs region. In any case, the distinguished Commisioners requested the WCA to send them detailed information about these and other crimes against the Aramean Christians who have become a vulnerable minority in Syria.
Ms. Sarah Bakir from the Netherlands (Main Delegate to the UN in Geneva) spoke on behalf of the WCA and was assisted by Ms. Nathalie Korkis from Sweden (Delegate to the UN in Geneva; delegated by the local Syriac Aramaic Youth Federation).
Thank you, Madam Vice-President.
Again we remind the world of the chilling fact that Syria’s indigenous Christianity is disappearing. Right in front of our eyes, the Aramean people of Syria, and of Iraq and Turkey for that matter, are crucified again, and again and again.
The World Council of Arameans (Syriacs) asks the COI to recognize, stress and promote the following two critical issues that are not addressed by the Report:
- First, unlike the much larger groups in Syria who receive all kinds of support from known states, patrons and sponsors, the small number of Arameans are alone in their struggle against an existential threat in their homeland. Moreover, until this day no humanitarian help from the UN or the EU has reached Syria’s native Arameans. Neither as part of the aid distributed to its population in general, nor as a distinct group like Syria’s Palestinians for instance.
- Secondly, the United Nations must stop dancing around the issue. In order to end the vicious circle of violence in Syria, it is time to approach the conflict as a proxy war. The Report should name and shame those states who aid terrorist networks, and demand accountability and a political solution.
Therefore, we ask the Commission of Inquiry on Syria to urge the UN Member States the following:
- First, to pay heed to the cries of Syria’s native Aramean population and grant political, humanitarian and other forms of aid to this vulnerable minority. This way, Syria’s ethnic and religious mosaic can still be saved.
- Secondly, to find and implement a political solution by forming a coalition jointly led by the USA and Russia that can eradicate the Islamic State and other terrorist groups, without delay. This way, the growing problems of terrorism, security and the refugee crisis will be solved too.
Click here to download the statement in PDF | Click here to view the recording on UN WebTV (under no. 61)
UN Geneva | The Arameans of Turkey: The Disappearance of a People
This Friday, 26 June 2015, the World Council of Arameans (Syriacs) ("WCA") will host a critical side-event at the United Nations Office in Geneva on the day of Turkey’s UPR outcome. The event is open for everyone and details are provided below.
In light of the 100 year remembrance of the Ottoman Genocide against the Armenian, Greek and Aramean (Syriac) populations, a new, unique and professional documentary called “Sayfo: A Forgotten Genocide” will premiere at the UN.
The film is a joint project by the Dutch Evangelical Broadcasting (EO) channel and the WCA and has been shown on National TV. Join us after Friday's Turkey UPR to watch this highly acclaimed film to see and feel the struggle for survival by the Aramean people who, from 1915 until 2015, have suffered an ongoing genocide in Turkey, Syria and Iraq.
After the film, there will be room for discussion and questions regarding human rights, minority issues and religious freedom seen from the perspective of a disappearing people and culture in Turkey. Your presence will be appreciated and your voice is much needed!
Should you wish to attend this event or need additional information,
please feel free to contact Ms. Sarah Bakir at sarah.bakir [at] wca-ngo.org.
