On 12 July 2019 the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) passed Resolution 41/23 on the situation in Syria. The resolution deplores the lack of cooperation by the Syrian authorities with the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) on Syria and demands that the Syrian authorities cooperate fully with the HRC and the CoI by granting the CoI immediate, full and unfettered access throughout the country. Resolution 41/23 also urges all relevant parties, including the signatories to the memorandum on the stabilization of the situation in the Idlib de-escalation area of 17 September 2018, to respect and uphold the ceasefire in Idlib. The resolution further condemns the damage and destruction of the cultural heritage within Syria and recalls that deliberate attacks on cultural heritage may amount to war crimes. Lastly, the resolution “demands that the Syrian authorities meet their responsibility to protect the Syrian population and to respect, protect and fulfil the human rights of all persons within its jurisdiction.”

The resolution was adopted by a vote of 26 in favour, 7 against and 14 abstentions.