53 countries ensure accountability for violations of IHL in Syria
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – The United Kingdom published a joint statement delivered by the UK’s Ambassador to the WTO and UN, Simon Manley, for the Interactive Dialogue with UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria.
This statement is made on behalf of a cross regional group of 53 countries, including Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Estonia, France, Finland, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, ROK, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, UK, Ukraine, USA.
“We support the important work of the Commissioners and the role they play together with the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism, in ensuring accountability for the ongoing serious violations of international law in Syria,” the statement read.
Manley called on all parties to conflict in Syria to facilitate immediate and unhindered humanitarian assistance.
The statement condemned the persistence of arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearances, torture and deaths in detention, including for returnees.
The countries called on the Syrian authorities to cease these violations, ensure the protection of civilians, respect the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly without discrimination.
Additionally, the statement urged the Syrian government to engage with the Independent Institution on Missing Persons.
On June 30, the General Assembly adopted a draft resolution to establish a first-of-its-kind institution that will work to reveal the fate of an estimated 100,000 people missing or forcibly disappeared in Syria.
The resolution was adopted by a vote of 83 in favor to 11 against, with 62 abstentions.
Since 2011, more than 100,000 individuals have gone missing or been forcibly disappeared by Syrian authorities and other parties to the conflict, including armed groups such as ISIS.
In 2021, Syrian families and survivors called for the creation of a new independent, humanitarian institution that will focus on victims’ inalienable right to know the truth about their loved ones.
“We recall the Commissioners’ findings that Syria does not yet offer a safe and stable environment for returns,” according to the statement.
Turkey and Lebanon continue to tighten the noose on Syrian refugees and asylum seekers, despite Syrian has not been declared as a safe zone yet. The number of Syrians forcibly deported from Turkey to Syria has exceeded 8,000 in September.
Last week, Lebanese Army stated that their forces prevented 1,200 Syrians from crossing the border into Lebanon.
In addition, the statement expressed the countries’ support for all efforts to progress the political process and urge the Syrian authorities and all parties to engage to advance all aspects of Security Council resolution 2254.
Since Aug. 17, anti-government protests have erupted in Suwayda Governorate, south Syria, demanding “the ousting of the regime” and implementing resolution 2254.