Geneva 19/9/2017 – The Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression has participated in the 36th regular session of Human Rights Council in Geneva through an oral statement read by the executive director of SCM Yara Bader, who highlighted the use of chemical weapons by the Syrian government forces in 20 out of 25 documented incidents. Mrs. Bader also emphasized that the lack of accountability of the Syrian regime for its responsibility towards its citizens, and in regards to international law and international humanitarian law, and its perpetration of systematic war crimes and crimes against humanity on a large scale, had severely exacerbated the magnitude and severity of human rights violations in Syria, and was followed by most of the fighting parties.
Mrs. Bader also stated that the main problem is the absence of international will to achieve justice and provide redress for the victims. Without this, there will be no sustainable peace, no political solution and no voluntary return of refugees without a serious process for accountability and transitional justice.
The Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression “SCM” works to empower the Syrian organizations to take part in the activities conducted by the United Nations and any of its entities, as SCM has a consultative status in the UN Economic and Social Council.
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The Full Speech of SCM at the 36th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council
Mr. Chairman
The chairman of The Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic
Ladies and Gentlemen:
The irresponsibility of the Syrian authorities towards its citizens, and in regards to international law and international humanitarian law, and its perpetration of systematic war crimes and crimes against humanity on a large scale, had severely exacerbated the magnitude and severity of human rights violations in Syria, and was followed by most of the fighting parties.
From the commission’s report from January 27, 2016:
“The government committed crimes against humanity, of genocide, murder, rape and other forms of sexual violence, torture and enforced disappearance. Based on these acts, war crimes have been committed.” According to the same report “imprisoned soldiers held by the anti-government armed groups were mistreated and executed. Others were executed in summary executions after unlawful trials.”
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Syria has truly become a heaven of impunity, and a stage to experiment with all kinds of violations. Yet we all stand unable to meet the minimum requirements of justice. This is not due to lack of documentation of the violations, nor due to a problem of evidence and proofs. Nor is it for lack of victims and witnesses. The main problem is the absence of international will to achieve justice and provide redress for the victims. Without this, there will be no sustainable peace, no political solution, nor will there be any voluntary return of refugees without a serious process for accountability and transitional justice.
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Terrorism has destroyed our country. We suffered, and continue to suffer, from its presence and daily crimes. We look forward to the day in which our country would be free of groups such as ISIS and al-Nusra, but military operations alone will not destroy extremist ideology. Justice, democratic transition and sustainable development must be achieved so we can guarantee that the Syrian youth are not drawn to extremism. We thus stress that there will be no point in a transition that includes no formal recognition of the crimes that were committed, and in which there is no accountability for war crimes and crimes against humanity that were committed in Syria, and without compensation for the victims within a comprehensive process of transitional justice.
For more details:
Report of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic
