The Human Rights Council of the United Nations met on Wednesday to discuss the report of an investigative committee on alleged human rights violations in Syria, including the mass murders in El-Houleh.
The government offices of Iceland. Photo by Páll Stefánsson.
Iceland participated in a declaration made by a number of states where deep concern and condemnation over events in Syria was declared, as stated in a press release from the Icelandic Ministry for Foreign Affairs.
According to the committee’s conclusions, extensive and systematic human rights violations and crimes against humanity may have been committed in Syria.
It was iterated that such crimes should not go unpunished. The states declared support for the appeal of the UN Human Rights Representative and special envoys of the Human Rights Council to the UN Security Council that these violations be referred to the International Criminal Court.
Sweden, on behalf of the Nordic countries, addressed attendees, bringing their attention to human rights violations and particularly violent crimes against children.
In the address, Syrian authorities are urged to cease attacks on civilians and respect international human rights and humanitarian treaties, and work with the Human Rights Council and UN Special Envoy Kofi Annan.
Also, the Icelandic government declared support for the European Union’s declaration on human rights violations in Syria.
ESA
