CHEMICAL WEAPONS ATTACKS IN SYRIA

Motion Text

That this House is dismayed by continuing chemical weapons attacks in Syria, and the devastating effects on civilians; is very concerned that the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons-United Nations Joint Investigative Mechanism, which investigated such attacks in Syria, was disbanded at the end of last year, following Russia's veto of a United Nations Security Council resolution requesting the renewal of the Mechanism' s mandate for another year; notes that during the two years in which it operated as the Joint Investigative Mechanism found that the Syrian government and the "Islamic State" had used chemical weapons against civilians; notes also that Russia has never conceded that President Assad's forces have used chemical weapons in the conflict in Syria; believes that the widespread and systematic use of chemical weapons by the Syrian government may amount to crimes against humanity; calls on the Government, together with members of the international community, to ensure that governments and other entities which use chemical weapons are identified and the perpetrators held to account.