Press release
Syrian Opposition Coalition
Department of Media and Communications
March 31, 2021
The Syrian Opposition Coalition (SOC) welcomes the decision by the UN Human Rights Council to extend the mandate of the Commission of Inquiry on Syria for a period of one year. It stresses the importance of continuing the investigations into the Assad regime’s crimes and following up on all violations. It also stresses that the SOC’s institutions will continue to cooperate with the CoI so as to ensure success in carrying out its task.
The SOC calls for taking all possible concrete steps to implement the decision; support the establishment of an international accountability mechanism; and put an end to impunity and the ongoing violations against civilians, war crimes and crimes against humanity that the report mentioned in detail.
The SOC also stresses the need to establish an effective international mechanism to bring all human rights violators to justice, especially in Syria. It emphasizes the importance of the findings of the UNHRC’s report regarding torture and mass forced displacement, as well as its attribution of responsibility to the Assad regime for the use of chemical weapons on at least 32 occasions.
Moreover, the SOC reaffirms the commitment of all its institutions to human rights and international humanitarian law, chief among them is the Syrian Interim Government, the Syrian National Army and all forces of the Syrian Revolution. It stresses that it is closely following all complaints, violations or abuses that are taking place through its specialized offices. The SOC also takes the necessary measures to punish those responsible and prevent the recurrence of these violations.
The SOC stresses the need to strengthen cooperation and coordination between the National Commission for the Affairs of the Missing and Detainees and the Accountability Team on the one side and the relevant international organizations on the other so as to help improve the situation of human rights in Syria and pave the way for a future in which Syria becomes a model for upholding and respect for human rights in the region and beyond.
