Human Rights Watch: Sanctions that hinder civilians' access to their basic rights in Syria must be lifted.
In a report by "Human Rights Watch," it was confirmed that the comprehensive sanctions imposed by the United States, the European Union, Britain, and other countries are hindering the restoration of basic services in Syria, pointing out their significant negative impact on reconstruction efforts.
The report also highlighted that "Syria urgently needs reconstruction in light of the difficult situation faced by Syrians, who are struggling to survive," and that sanctions imposed by some countries pose a major obstacle to the restoration of essential services such as healthcare, water, electricity, and education.
Human Rights Watch called for the lifting of sanctions that impede civilians' access to their basic rights, emphasizing that the entities imposing sanctions must prioritize the safety of Syrian civilians.
The organization also called for reintegrating Syria into the global financial systems, lifting trade restrictions on essential goods, addressing energy sanctions to ensure the availability of fuel and electricity, as well as providing clear legal guarantees for financial institutions and companies to mitigate the negative impacts of excessive compliance with sanctions.
Human Rights Watch pointed out that the harshest sanctions are imposed by the United States, which prohibit most forms of trade and financial transfers with Syria, with limited exceptions for humanitarian aid. Meanwhile, the European Union sanctions focus on preventing the purchase of Syrian crude oil, restricting investments, and preventing Syrian banks from accessing global financial systems.
The organization urged Western governments to change their sanction-related policies, noting that using broad sectoral sanctions as a bargaining chip to achieve shifting political goals is no longer effective, emphasizing the need to take concrete steps to lift restrictions affecting Syrian civilians.
It is worth mentioning that the European Union has suspended part of the sanctions imposed on Syria, which targeted several key economic sectors in the country, including lifting sanctions on 4 Syrian banks, the airlines, and the energy sector.
