News story

Minister for the Middle East welcomes UN steps to ensure accountability in Syria

The UN Human Rights Council in Geneva has today adopted a resolution which further condemns the appalling human rights violations in Syria.

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

The resolution also extend the mandate of the Commission of Inquiry to ensure that those responsible can be held to account.

Foreign Office Minister Alistair Burt said:

“I welcome today’s resolution of the Human Rights Council, and particularly the decision to extend the mandate of the Commission of Inquiry. The Commission has played a vital role in documenting and publicising the appalling human rights violations and abuses in Syria. Today’s resolution ensures that this critical work will continue, and sets up a formal mechanism for storing the evidence and information gathered so that it can be used in the future.

“The international community has sent another very clear signal that it will not tolerate impunity for gross violations and abuses of human rights, and the UK will continue to do all it can, with partners and through the United Nations, to ensure that individuals responsible for such crimes can be held to account. Those who continue to support Assad should step back and help end the violence before it is too late”.

Published 23 March 2012