Washington, D.C. — Citizens for a Secure and Safe America (C4SSA) strongly supports the United States’ decision to join an international working group aimed at promoting accountability for the use of chemical weapons. This coalition of twelve nations held its first session on September 27th in The Hague, marking a crucial step in the global pursuit of justice for victims of these heinous crimes.
The Syrian people have suffered profoundly from the Assad regime’s repeated use of chemical weapons against innocent civilians. These horrific attacks have claimed thousands of lives, destroyed entire communities, and created an enduring climate of fear. The use of chemical weapons is not only a gross violation of international law but also a direct assault on human dignity. It sends a dangerous signal to other perpetrators that they will face no accountability for their actions and weakens the international order that safeguards civilian lives.
The formation of this group, officially known as the Working Group to Advance Proposals for International Criminal Accountability for Chemical Weapons Use, represents a timely and critical move toward addressing the legal and policy challenges of holding war criminals accountable. Justice for the victims and survivors in Syria is long overdue, and enforcing accountability is essential to preventing future atrocities, both in Syria and around the world.
“We commend the United States for joining this critical initiative and standing with the Syrian people in their pursuit of justice,” said C4SSA President George Stifo. “The world cannot turn a blind eye to the suffering caused by chemical weapons. We urge all nations to support efforts to bring those responsible to justice and to ensure that such crimes never happen again. The Assad regime has evaded meaningful accountability for gassing its own people for more than a decade. It’s time Bashar al-Assad and his regime are brought to justice for their crimes.”
C4SSA calls for a robust international framework that holds perpetrators accountable and offers justice to survivors and their families. As discussions in The Hague continue, we are hopeful that this initiative will lead to meaningful progress in addressing impunity for the use of chemical weapons in Syria and beyond.
