Geneva, Sept. 8 (SANA) Syria is advancing efforts on justice and accountability while strengthening cooperation with the International Commission of Inquiry and international organizations, Syria’s representative to the U.N. Human Rights Council Yasser al-Farhan said.
Addressing a Human Rights Council meeting, Al-Farhan said Syria was pursuing justice and accountability without discrimination, highlighting recent judicial measures against a number of key criminals.
He said the Criminal Court specialized in transitional justice has ruled on five cases and is reviewing 12 others, while 69 files are before the investigating judge, 1,174 cases remain under investigation and around 1,133 files are being handled by the Public Prosecution.
Al-Farhan said Syria remains committed to judicial standards and guarantees of fair and public trials, including the right to defense, defendants’ access to their families, victims’ participation and the presence of international observers and relevant organizations, while ensuring due process and judicial independence.
He added that the National Commission for Missing Persons has made significant progress in establishing its institutional framework and preparing the legal structure governing its work in consultation with victims’ families.
Syria has also launched the national “Athar” program for reporting missing persons, developed a centralized database and carried out 194 field responses linked to missing persons cases and mass graves, he said.
Al-Farhan also stressed that Israel is continuing hostile actions, including shelling, abductions, incursions and attacks on civilians, saying they represent violations of international resolutions, Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and the 1974 Disengagement Agreement.
He called on the Human Rights Council to focus on determining the fate and whereabouts of Syrians forcibly disappeared by Israel and work toward securing their release.
R.A/ABD
