Delivered by

Mr. Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro, Chair of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic

At

80th session UN General Assembly

Location

New York

M. le Président, Excellences,

Few of us foresaw the events of December 2024 with the extraordinary wave of optimism that followed the fall of the former government. Over a million Syrian refugees have since returned to their country. Following decades of oppression, Syrians now have an opportunity to rebuild their country based on respect for the dignity and human rights of all citizens.

For the first time since the establishment of our mandate, since December, we have access to Syria. We have emphasized the unique opportunity that Syrians have to profoundly transform the truth, justice and accountability landscape in the country. While the challenges are immense, so too are the opportunities. We have already seen progress with the establishment of the new Transitional Justice Authority and National Authority on Missing Persons. These institutions are critical for addressing the need for justice for victims, and to ensure guarantees of non-repetition.

The interim authorities have also granted unfettered access for our team of investigators to different parts of the country. In June, we conducted on-site visits to Latakia and Tartus, and more recently to Suweyda and surrounding areas.

Excellences,

Despite the positive steps taken by the government towards state-building, repeated disturbing bouts of violence have tempered optimism about the interim authorities’ ability to put an end to Syria’s entrenched cycles of violence.

In March, an estimated 1,400 men, women and children as young as one were killed in massacres in Latakia, Tartus and Hama governorates, including by members of the interim government’s security forces. Armed individuals filmed themselves committing serious human rights violations, including executions, or while walking alongside dead and burning bodies scattered on the street. Prior to being executed, victims were subjected to dehumanizing verbal abuse referencing the Alawi community. Tens of thousands of people fled to Lebanon, raising concerns of further protracted displacement. Alarmingly, we continue to receive reports of extra-judicial killings, torture and ill-treatment and forced displacement of Alawi civilians in Damascus and western governorates.

The Commission’s team has now had the opportunity to also visit Suweida city and rural parts of Suweida heavily affected by the July violence, and to meet victims, survivors and witnesses of these horrific events. The Commission is extremely grateful to all the individuals who have shared their experiences, most of which were deeply traumatic and nearly indescribable. Deep scars remain across the city of Suweida and its countryside; our teams witnessed firsthand the level of devastation in dozens of villages in majority Druze areas of western Suwayda. The death and destruction is immense, with more than 30 villages almost entirely depopulated, looted, and burned. Many bodies of those who were killed remain unaccounted for, and large numbers, reportedly in the hundreds, are among the missing. The Commission investigators met with many families and witnesses who recounted the brutal killings of family members taken from their homes.

The humanitarian needs for the displaced communities, Druze and Bedouin alike, are massive and require urgent action as winter approaches. The scars of the July events were not only physical but caused greater mistrust between communities and the interim government, which will require swift and concrete efforts to hold perpetrators accountable and engage in the reforms necessary to ensure such acts are never repeated. Following the March coastal events and a reported increase in online and in-person hate speech, the Commission is gravely concerned that the stage is set for further violence if swift action is not taken. The way forward starts with meaningful and transparent accountability for these events, those in March, and for the many lesser-known violations and abuses that have occurred since the establishment of the interim government. Despite the increasing trust deficit, communities routinely spoke of their neighbourly bonds and desire to live in peace and security. Rebuilding trust will require dedicated efforts for dialogue, inclusion, and justice for all victims.

M. le President,

The challenges facing the interim authorities are enormous and require the concerted attention, support and resources of Member States to address them.

Violence and discrimination against women is a growing concern. We have received multiple reports of women and girls being abducted by unknown armed actors. Some were reportedly subjected to sexual violence and forced marriage. In many cases, despite reporting their disappearance to the local authorities, families report that no action was taken yet to investigate or follow up on these cases.

Last December, Israel advanced into southern Syria. Since then, civilians have been forcibly displaced and arbitrarily detained, and Israeli airstrikes, including on Damascus, have continued, with reports of civilian casualties. The Commission calls on Member States to prevent such actions by Israel. Third-state intervention risks further inflaming the conflict and inflicting even greater suffering on the Syrian people.

Tensions in northeast Syria remain, with clashes reported in Aleppo city and near the Tishreen dam in early October. Urgent action is needed to prevent further escalation.

Recent steps taken by several States and the EU to ease sanctions on Syria are welcome, improving daily life for Syrians. But Member States can and should do more, including by continuing to fund the 2025 humanitarian appeal which is disappointingly just 19% funded. The future of Syria is in the balance, and the country urgently needs assistance that goes well beyond the humanitarian appeal. Are you ready to step forward and help?

A safe, rights-respecting Syria, reflecting the diverse mosaic of the country’s religious and ethnic communities, requires strong, inclusive and effective state institutions, based on human rights and the rule of law. We call on the interim authorities and Member States to urgently address the underlying causes of the recent violence, prevent the recurrence of violations and work to build trust between the State and impacted communities, including by holding those responsible to account. Concrete recommendations in this regard are set out in our recent report, which the Foreign Minister encouragingly indicated would serve as a roadmap. Actions taken now will set the foundation for decades to come.

Finally, I would remiss not to take this opportunity to thank my two colleagues and dear friends Hanny Megally and Lynn Welchman, who will be stepping down from the Commission in December, for their good service and for their friendship. It will be difficult to replace them, but I am assured that they will remain engaged in the efforts to help Syrians rebuild their country and obtain justice for decades of abuse.

Thank you.