There has been increasing concerns over U.S. and Russia’s behavior toward Syria, which remains a significantly complex foreign policy issue. The tension only seems to be getting worse as the ceasefire took place in Syria between the rebel groups and the Assad regime, which has the support from Russia, Turkey, and Iran. Surprisingly, the U.S. was kept in the dark during the process of peace talks in Syrian ceasefire. Although Russia would not like to admit that the U.S. represents a major force in Syria, it comes at a shock to most international players to witness the U.S. not being present in crisis management developments. As 2016 has come to a close, it is important to recognize that Russia’s involvement in Syria has only prolonged the tragic state seen in the population and any humanitarian aid offered to the victims come as challenges.
The conditions of the Syrian civil war had shocked global aid agencies while making it difficult to determine the exact number of civilians that are still trapped in rebel-controlled regions. UNICEF has expressed their concerns for children, who are victims of the continuous airstrikes from the Assad regime and their supporters, such as Russia. Many international humanitarian groups are calling for the international courts to apply pressure on the parties responsible for the crimes and to bring justice to the victims. The spokespeople of UNICEF also raised awareness of the many children who have been displaced and can no longer attend school, or receive the proper medical treatment, especially those who are still trapped in East Aleppo.
Russia has continuously claimed that their presence in Syria is solely for humanitarian purposes. However, it is noted that the bombing campaigns started by the Russian-Syrian alliance have resulted in war crimes, as well they have consistently denounced any U.S. support for the rebel forces that oppose President Bashar al-Assad. This coalition only increased the abuse of human rights to new heights, and as such, accountability needs to be sought in order to bring justice to the victims.
One of the only methods of holding Russia accountable is to bring a claim alleging Russian involvement in human rights violations to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). The ECHR, unlike the International Criminal Court (ICC), of which Russia is a member and can hold them accountable for their crimes against innocent Syrian families. In this regard, the ECHR has the ability to bring cases concerning children who are victims of airstrike attacks, which can penalize any influence of Russian military capabilities. One of the biggest cases stems from Russia’s denial of six bombs being dropped on an Idlib school that resulted in 35 deceased young students, of which Russia claims no responsibility. The ECHR can allow Syrian families to testify about how such violence has caused physical and emotional harm for which they can even proceed without having to present before domestic courts.
Such methods, which can effectively hold Russia accountable for their crimes against humanity, need to come into effect at a swift pace. Currently, the United States has limited influence in Syria, as Russia has positioned themselves as Syria’s most dominant ally. The challenge going into 2017 is to determine measures that would decrease Russia’s control and prestige in Syria, as Syria represents Russia’s only power-play in the Middle East. It was known that President Obama and Congress was not convinced of entering into another military conflict in the Middle East before the civil conflict erupted, and, although U.S. forces did support small rebel groups, Russia ultimately took advantage to strategically reassert its influence. The opposite needs to be done in 2017. More involvement by the United States and the international community could certainly bring the victims one step closer to securing justice, and in avoiding more children falling into the hands of war and mass destruction, which is being led by their own leader and Russia.
References
Brown, Gordon. “New Year’s resolution: Hold Russia accountable.” CNN, December 30, 2016. Accessed
December 31, 2016.
Bruton, F. Brinley and Eremenko, Alexey. “Aleppo Is Falling. What Does This Mean For Assad, ISIS and
Russia?” NBC News, December 14, 2016. Accessed January 1, 2017.
Manullova, Anastasya. “U.S.-Russia Relations Are Increasingly Unpredictable – And Syria Is On The Line.”
Huffington Post, December 31, 2016. Accessed January 1, 2017.
The Editorial Board. “Can Russia Make Peace as Well as War?” The New York Times, December 31, 2016.
Accessed January 1, 2017.
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