EU Explanation of Vote – UN General Assembly 3rd Committee: Human rights in Syria
Mr. Chair,
I have the honour to speak on behalf of the EU and its Member States.
The Candidate Countries North Macedonia*, Montenegro*, Albania*, Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova and Bosnia and Herzegovina*, the potential candidate country Georgia, as well as San Marino align themselves with this statement.
The EU remains deeply concerned about the violence and instability in Syria more than 12 years after the outbreak of the conflict, which continue to cause the Syrian people enormous suffering and hardship. As reiterated by the Chair of the UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria during the 78th session of the UN General Assembly: we are witnessing the largest escalation of hostilities in Syria in four years.
We recall that any sustainable solution to the conflict requires a genuine political transition in line with UNSCR 2254. The EU reiterates its urgent call on the Syrian regime, its sponsors and all parties to the conflict to engage fully and in good faith in the Syrian-led political process.
All parties responsible for breaches of international law, which may amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity, including international humanitarian law, and violations and abuses of human rights must be held accountable. The EU condemns the consistent and systematic use of arbitrary detention, torture, sexual and gender-based violence, involuntary or enforced disappearance and summary executions by all parties to the conflict, in particular the Syrian regime.
We recall the crucial humanitarian imperative of allowing families to know the fate and whereabouts of their missing relatives. In this context, the EU welcomes UN General Assembly resolution 77/301 of 29 June 2023 establishing an Independent Institution on Missing Persons in Syria and highlights the importance of the swift establishment of the new institution. The EU urges all parties to the conflict to support efforts to determine the fate of those missing.
The European Union continues to warn against any further displacements in any part of Syria, as well as against the potential exploitation of such displacements for the purpose of social and demographic engineering, committed by all parties to the conflict. We stress the recent finding of the Commission of Inquiry that conditions for a safe, voluntary, secure and dignified return of Syrian refugees are still not met.
Accountability remains of utmost importance, both for victims of human rights violations and in the framework of a lasting political solution. We reiterate our full continued support to the International Impartial and Independent Mechanism and our call for the situation in Syria to be referred to the ICC. The EU insists that the Syrian regime must fully cooperate with all investigation and accountability mechanisms.
The EU continues to demand that all parties to the conflict, in particular the Syrian regime, allow safe, full, rapid, unimpeded and sustained humanitarian access, both cross-line and cross-border, as well as to places of confinement or detention.
In this context, we note with disappointment the deletion of provisions regarding the reporting by the Emergency Relief Coordinator on the humanitarian situation and response, as included in OP16 of the submitted text. The deletion of such substantial provisions at the last minute is concerning, both in substance and procedurally. As one of the largest donors of humanitarian aid in Syria, the EU would have welcomed this transparency on the delivery of the aid it funds, which would also have reassured partners and NGOs on the ground.
We welcome the adoption of the resolution on the situation of Human Rights in Syria.
Thank you.
* North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.