EU blij met voornemen van VN-mensenrechtenraad om onderzoekscommissie naar Syrië te sturen (en)

Catherine Ashton, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and

Vice-President of the Commission, made today the following statement: "I warmly welcome the outcome of the special session of the Human Rights Council on Syria and the decision taken to urgently dispatch an independent international commission of inquiry to investigate violations of international human rights law in response to the intolerable and unacceptable developments on the ground. The UN Fact-Finding Mission has established that the massive violations currently committed in Syria and the violence against civilians may amount to crimes against humanity. Urgent and proper action is paramount to investigate these violations, identify those responsible and ensure that perpetrators of violations are held accountable.

As part of its response to the situation in Syria, the EU has taken the lead in engaging with countries from all regions in order to convene this special session. The resolution adopted today has received strong cross-regional support and demonstrates the wide and unequivocal rejection of the Syrian regime's brutality against its own people. The brutal repression must be stopped, detained protesters released, free access by international humanitarian and human rights organizations and media allowed, and a genuine and inclusive national dialogue launched to address the legitimate aspirations of the Syrian people."