GENEVA, JULY 14 – Addressing a meeting in Geneva, the President of the Independent Commission of Inquiry on Syria, Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, criticized the United Nations’ Security Council: “They are doing the bare minimum in helping Syrians. They must do more. All aid must flow on the basis of need not of politics. Anything else is a shameful failure which can result in further and entirely unnecessary loss of life. Pandemics know no borders, nor should lifesaving aid,” Pinheiro said, opening an interactive dialogue during the 44th Session of the Human Rights Council.
The Permanent Representative of Italy to the United Nations in Geneva, Ambassador Gian Lorenzo Cornado, addressed the meeting. He underlined the appalling the rampant human rights violations and war crimes in Syria, and in particular in the Idlib area, highlighted by the Commission.
“Italy remains deeply concerned by the devastating impact of the continuous conflict in Syria on civilians, and in particular on women, children and IDPs, urging all parties to immediately cease hostilities and constructively engage in the ongoing political process under the auspices of the UN Special Envoy Pedersen”, said Cornado, recalling that Italy strongly supports a negotiated durable solution of the conflict, pursuant to the relevant UNSC resolutions, including the UNSE’s endeavour to convene, as soon as possible, the Constitutional Committee within the framework of the UN Security Council Resolution 2254.
Ambassador Cornado reiterated the call to all parties to fully comply to International Humanitarian Law and protect civilians and civilian infrastructures, including education and healthcare facilities. Furthermore, he stressed the importance that unimpeded, full and sustained humanitarian access should be granted to all aid actors through all possible means, including cross border assistance mechanisms. Lastly, he reiterated the need to ensure accountability for all violations of international human rights and humanitarian law as a prerequisite of a sustainable, inclusive and peaceful conclusion to the conflict.
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