European External Action Service

09/23/2022 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/23/2022 05:53

Interactive Dialogue with Commission of inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic

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Interactive Dialogue with Commission of inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic

UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL

51th session

Interactive Dialogue with Commission of inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic

EU Intervention

22 September 2022

Mr President,

The European Union thanks the Commission of Inquiry for its latest report and reiterates its strong support.

The European Union firmly condemns the persistent, widespread, systematic and serious violations and abuses of human rights and all violations of international humanitarian law by all parties to the conflict, especially by the Syrian regime and its allies.

The EU remains determined to fight all forms of impunity. We reiterate our full continued support to the International Impartial and Independent Mechanism (IIIM) and our call to have the situation in Syria referred to the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Among many important findings, today's report documents numerous human rights violations against returnees, including torture, arbitrary arrests and violations of property rights. We share the Commission's conclusion that Syria is still not a safe place to returnThe EU continues to voice strong concern about reports of social and demographic engineering in all areas throughout Syria.

We also reiterate that safe, full, unhindered and sustained access for humanitarian organisations is imperative, including to places of confinement or detention, and in order to provide cross border and cross-line support, in line with humanitarian principles.

In closing, we thank the Commission of Inquiry for its continued attention to the plight of Syria's missing and disappeared persons. We welcome the recent report by the UN Secretary General on this issue and support his recommendation for a coherent and holistic approach going beyond current efforts to address this continuing tragedy, clarify the fate and whereabouts of missing persons in Syria, and provide adequate support to victims, survivors and the families of those missing.

I thank you.