[Human Rights] HRC/18th Special Session, Statement on Syria
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18th Special Session of the Human Rights Council
Statement by AUSTRIA
Madam President,
Austria fully aligns itself with the statement made by Poland on behalf of the European Union.
Austria, together with its partners in the European Union, has supported the call for this third special session on the Syrian Arab Republic, we are deeply concerned about the findings of the report of the Commission of Inquiry mandated by this Council to investigate all human rights violations committed in Syria since March this year. We appreciate the report of the Commission and wish to thank its members for their dedicated work under difficult circumstances without cooperation from the Syrian authorities. We thank Professor Pinheiro and the High Commissioner for their presentations today.
Madam President,
As the report reveals, a shocking array of human rights violations has been committed by the Syrian military and security forces, including arbitrary executions, excessive use of force and a “shoot to kill policy”, torture, sexual violence and enforced disappearances. Child rights have been brutally violated with credible reports of torture and killings of minors. Freedom of speech and assembly have been curtailed completely, journalists have been harassed and detained for reporting on demonstrations. We strongly condemn these continued widespread and systematic violations. We repeat our call on the Syrian government to immediately meet its responsibility to protect its population and stop all attacks on civilians. We demand that all prisoners of conscience and arbitrarily detained persons be released immediately and that the media be allowed to operate without restrictions, harassment or intimidation.
The utter lack of cooperation with the Commission of Inquiry, with the League of Arab States and all other states and organizations calling on the government of the Syrian Arab Republic to cease the brutal crackdown against their own population is a shocking disregard for the international community. We call on the Syrian government to fully implement the steps proposed in the Arab League’s “Plan of Action” in line with its own commitment. We support the decision by the League of Arab States to impose a range of restrictive measures against the Syrian government in view of the government's refusal to accept an observer mission of the League. We repeat our call on the Syrian authorities to finally cooperate with this Council by allowing the Commission of Inquiry to conduct its investigations inside Syria.
Madam President,
Total impunity prevails in Syria. No perpetrator has been brought to justice. Immunity provisions for members of the security forces and the lack of independence of the judiciary are a matter of great concern and need to be revised in accordance with international standards. The Commission of Inquiry expresses its concern that the widespread and systematic nature of the attacks against civilians in Syria fulfills the definition of Article 7 of the Rome Statute of crimes against humanity. This warrants the attention of the International Criminal Court; therefore, we support the call for a referral of the situation in Syria to the Court. The international community cannot tolerate such crimes any longer – those responsible will have to face the consequences of their crimes.
I thank you.
