STATEMENT
Human Rights Council 54rd Session.
Interactive dialogue with the Commission of Enquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic
Statement delivered by the Permanent Representative of Estonia on behalf of the Nordic Baltic countries: Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway and Sweden
22 September 2023
Mr. President,
I speak on behalf of the Nordic-Baltic countries.
We express our firm support for the work of the Commission of Inquiry, and share its serious concern that grave violations of human rights and humanitarian law continue across the country.
We are deeply concerned about the continued patterns of alleged crimes against humanity and war crimes committed by the Syrian regime. We welcome the establishment of the independent institution on missing persons.
We reiterate the need to cease all indiscriminate and direct attacks on civilians as well as to end torture and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment.
We deplore the expiration of the cross-border mechanism, and in particular, the veto cast by a P5 member in July, further exacerbating the dire humanitarian situation in northwest Syria.
The Syrian people have suffered enough. There must be a comprehensive ceasefire, and there must be a political solution in line with UNSCR2254.
Mr Chairperson: What more can we do to help the Syrian people?
Thank you.