Human Rights Council 34: Core Group statement on the human rights situation in Syria
This statement was delivered on behalf of the core Group during the high-level panel discussion on the human rights situation in the Syria on 14 March 2017.
The Human Rights Council takes place at the Palais des Nations in Geneva
This statement is made on behalf of a group of states: France, Germany, Italy, Jordan, Kuwait, Morocco, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the UK and the US.
Today’s important discussion is a tragic reminder of the horrific violations and abuses of human rights that the people of Syria continue to face. We would like to thank all of the brave panellists for sharing their experiences.
As the UN Commission of Inquiry has found, the Syrian regime is responsible for the illegal detention and likely enforced disappearance of tens of thousands of Syrians. Non-state armed groups also continue to hold individuals under brutal conditions.
We strongly condemn all human rights violations and abuses and violations of international humanitarian law that continue to take place in Syria. We also call on all parties to the conflict, particularly the regime, to release all those who have been detained unlawfully and for parties holding detainees to protect the health and safety of those in their custody.
We must also hold those responsible to account. It is essential that the Commission of Inquiry continues to document and investigate violations and abuses of human rights, and that the Syrian authorities co-operate with the CoI and the new International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism.
We also fully support the work of the UN Special Envoy, Staffan de Mistura, to seek a political settlement.
We cannot rest until a long-term political solution to the conflict is found and those responsible for violations and abuses of human rights are held to account.