There can be no lasting peace without shedding light on the fate of all (. . . ) - EUROPE SAYS
Madam President,I would like to thank Ms. Quintana for her briefing and for the Independent Institution’s unwavering commitment to serving the families of missing Syrians. As the President of the French. . .
Madam President,I would like to thank Ms. Quintana for her briefing and for the Independent Institution’s unwavering commitment to serving the families of missing Syrians. As the President of the French Republic underscored during his recent visit to Damascus, France’s support for the Syrian people in their aspiration for justice and a peaceful and inclusive transition remains steadfast. There can be no lasting peace without shedding light on the fate of all missing persons, nor without support for their loved ones as they seek the truth. The Independent Institution is dedicated to supporting Syria on this path. In this regard, I would like to emphasize two points, in addition to those raised on behalf of the European Union and its Member States. First, France commends the efforts of the Syrian authorities to cast light on the fate of missing persons in Syria and the dialogue established with the Independent Institution in this regard. We encourage the Syrian National Commission on Missing Persons to continue its work and note that the appointment of the Syrian Parliament paves the way for the finalization of a draft law on this matter. It is also essential that these efforts cover disappearances that have occurred since the fall of the regime. We welcome the Independent Institution’s numerous visits to Syria in recent months and the support it is providing to the Syrian authorities, in coordination with the ICRC. We commend the progress made by the Independent Institution in data analysis, the initial results of its investigations, the identification of children placed in orphanages, the mapping of burial sites, as well as the information the Institution has shared with several families of missing persons. Second, France calls on the Syrian authorities to strengthen their cooperation with the independent Institution, and on all Member States to support its work. On the path toward the rule of law, the established expertise of the United Nations is crucial. We therefore encourage the Syrian authorities to allow the independent Institution to establish a presence in the country, so that it can support the work on disappearances as closely as possible to the ground. The General Assembly expressed this position last December in its resolution on the human rights situation in Syria. We also encourage Syria to consider acceding to the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance. Madam President,I would like to hail the immense courage of Syrian civil society stakeholders, who, through their testimonies and mobilization, contribute to the work of the Independent Institution and place the victims and their families at the heart of its work. Thank you.