Thank you Mr. President,

The Kingdom of the Netherlands aligns itself with the EU and expresses its deepest appreciation for the Commission of Inquiry.  

We strongly condemn the serious, continuous and large-scale human rights violations in Syria. We are deeply concerned about the ongoing indiscriminate attacks on civilians in the Syrian Arab Republic as pointed out in the latest report of the Commission of Inquiry.

The continuing alarming testimonies of people that have been arbitrarily detained and incommunicado in Syria, and often tortured, are deeply disturbing. This proves that the Syrian regime continues to commit crimes against humanity.

As emphasized at the previous interactive dialogue in July, we believe a lasting political solution in Syria is possible only if the perpetrators are held to account and the victims obtain justice.

The first hearings as part of the legal proceedings by Canada and the Netherlands at the International Court of Justice to hold the Syrian Arab Republic accountable for torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment, will take place in October. Because these gross human rights violations in Syria cannot remain without consequences.

Finally, the Netherlands fully supports the recent establishment of the Independent Institution on Missing Persons in Syria.

Distinguished members of the Commission:

How does the CoI believe victims and families could best be represented in this mechanism?