UN High Commissioner: Assad must be held accountable
Published: Monday, Dec 9th 2024, 14:00
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Following the change of power in Syria, UN High Commissioner Volker Türk is calling for justice for all victims of human rights violations during the civil war. Former President Bashar al-Assad, who has fled the country, must be held accountable, said the head of the UN Office for Human Rights in Geneva.
This applies not only to Assad and his former government, but also to the other actors in the civil war who are responsible for human rights violations, Türk emphasized at a press conference. "This will be a central element of the political transition," he said. Insurgents led by Islamists have taken control of the country.
According to the Austrian UN diplomat, hundreds of thousands lost their lives during the 14-year civil war. More than 100,000 people disappeared. Around 14 million were displaced, often under cruel circumstances.
Türk calls for international vigilance for transition process
The "new Syria" could accept the statutes of the International Criminal Court and thus enable the tribunal to prosecute crimes, Türk explained. However, the prosecution must also be carried out by courts in Syria, he said. Women and young people in particular must be involved in the political reorganization, the Commissioner demanded. "It is very important that we are all very vigilant."
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