UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen in Damascus. Syria: UN calls for protection of civilians, preservation of evidence of crimes Peace and Security
UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen is in Damascus, where he met with the commander of the new administration, Ahmed al-Sharaa, and the Prime Minister of the interim government, Mohammed al-Bashir.
The Special Envoy briefed them on the results of the international meeting on Syria held on 14 December in Jordan, stressing the need for an “inclusive political transition led and owned by the Syrian people, based on the principles of UN Security Council resolution 2254 (2015).”
Pedersen noted the UN’s readiness to provide comprehensive support to the Syrian people. The Special Envoy also heard a briefing on the challenges facing the new Syrian government and its priorities. Pedersen has further meetings scheduled in the country in the coming days.
Humanite Appeal
Meanwhile, the UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria is calling for the protection of civilians, humane treatment of former combatants and the preservation of evidence of crimes committed. The Commission stressed that all parties must fully comply with their obligations under international human rights and humanitarian law.
Read also:
The group that seized power in Syria has been designated a terrorist organization – what next?
“The interim government in Damascus, like other parties to the Syrian conflict, must ensure that their forces comply with their stated commitments to prevent violence and protect civilians, especially in the most vulnerable communities,” said Commission President Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro.
The release of prisoners from former government detention facilities was a great relief, the Commission said in a statement. The investigation found that the former government had committed crimes against humanity, including murder, rape, torture, unlawful imprisonment, enforced disappearances and other inhumane acts.
Preservation of Evidence
The Commission stressed the importance of preserving all evidence and crime scenes, including mass graves, for the purpose of forensic documentation and analysis. The interim government should ensure the protection of documents related to prisoners so that this evidence can be used to bring those responsible to justice.
“For all Syrians who have not found their loved ones among those released, these documents may be their only hope of finding the truth about the fate of their missing relatives – along with the testimony of former detainees,” said Commissioner Lynn Welchman.
In light of the stated intention to bring those responsible to justice, the Commission recalls that any such trials must be open and fully respectful of fair trial rights.
“Syrians deserve justice after almost 14 years of brutal war, during which virtually every crime listed in the Rome Statute was committed,” said Commissioner Hanni Megally.
“Full justice for victims and survivors must inevitably involve not only trials, but also satisfying their demands for truth, compensation, as well as legal and institutional reforms,” he added.
Ongoing fighting
Fighting continues in the north, east and northeast of the country, with Israeli forces advancing beyond the 1974 Disengagement Agreement zone for the first time in 50 years, reportedly carrying out more than 500 airstrikes. As the UN Secretary-General said, these are “serious violations of Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
The US has also carried out dozens of airstrikes on suspected ISIS targets since December 8, while Turkey has reportedly continued to strike targets associated with the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces in the northeast, the Commission said.
Review of Sanctions
More than one million people have been forced to flee their homes since November 27. Against this backdrop, the Commission reiterates its call for a comprehensive ceasefire and for immediate assistance to the 17 million Syrians in need.
The Commission also reiterates the need for an urgent review or suspension of sanctions regimes to ensure that they do not impede humanitarian assistance. “As we have seen, sanctions are disproportionately harming the poor and most vulnerable, and now is the time to give Syrians a chance to rebuild their country,” concluded Commission President Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro.