Syria - The Failure of Humanitarianism

Abstract

The Syrian Revolution aimed to remove the dictatorial regime from power and liberate the Syrian people. Following the example of other peoples, such as the Libyan and Egyptian, Syrian citizens began protests, initially peaceful, against the authorities. Authorities’ response was harsh, punishing very hard protesters of all ages. More and more people came out to protest; more and more people have been arrested by authorities, imprisoned under inhuman conditions, tortured, murdered. The authorities resorted to starving the civilians to force them to give up protests. Supported by deserted soldiers, the protesters organized and began the armed struggle against government forces. The dictatorial regime resorted to many illegal means and methods of war to maintain its power: killings, torture, bombings without discrimination, use of chemical weapons, collaboration with criminal and terrorist organizations, starvation of civilians, retaliation, etc. Unfortunately, the international community has remained powerless in the face of these atrocities. Thus, the gaps and inequities of the functioning of the international system for the defence of international peace and security, human rights and international humanitarian law are observed once again.