Responding to the impending vote at the United Nations Human Rights Council on a resolution on the situation in Eastern Ghouta, Kevin Whelan, Senior Advocate at Amnesty International, said:

“The international community must act now to end the war crimes in Eastern Ghouta. The catastrophic humanitarian situation will further deteriorate if parties to the conflict continue to violate international humanitarian law with impunity.

“It is imperative, for the sake of humanity, for the Human Rights Council to do all that is in its power to ensure that those responsible for the atrocity crimes committed in Eastern Ghouta are held to account for these horrific acts.

“The Syrian government must immediately provide UN independent monitors with access to Syria in order to investigate violations of international humanitarian law.”