Qatar has endorsed all initiatives aimed at combating impunity and prosecuting those responsible for human rights abuses against the Syrian people — a position Qatar's foreign ministry reaffirmed at the United Nations Human Rights Council's 56th session in Geneva.
Abdullah Al Suwaidi, First Secretary at Qatar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, delivered the statement during an Interactive Dialogue with the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic at the HRC 56th session.
Qatar's Stand on Syria Accountability
Al Suwaidi made clear that Qatar supports every accountability measure targeting those responsible for violations against Syrian civilians since the conflict began in 2011. He warned that without a final political solution, the cycle of severe crimes, human rights abuses, and deteriorating humanitarian, social, and economic conditions would continue unchanged.
He stressed the need for greater political will and concerted pressure to reach a political settlement consistent with the Geneva Declaration and UN Security Council Resolution 2254 — a framework designed to meet Syrians' legitimate aspirations while safeguarding the sovereignty, unity, independence, and territorial integrity of Syria.
Constitutional Committee and Missing Persons
On the question of process, Al Suwaidi called for the resumption of work within the Syrian Constitutional Committee and for sustained pressure on the Syrian regime to engage constructively in those talks.
He also highlighted the urgency of addressing the file of missing persons, detainees, arbitrarily detained individuals, and the forcibly disappeared — describing progress on this front as essential to achieving any sustainable political resolution and ensuring justice for all victims of the conflict.
Qatar Thanks Commission of Inquiry
Al Suwaidi closed by expressing Qatar's gratitude to the members of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic for their oral update on the human rights situation in Syria and for their ongoing work to investigate and document violations committed against the Syrian people.
