Thank you Mr. President,

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

The Netherlands has witnessed with great relief the fall of the Assad-regime, marking the end of a regime that ruled with an iron fist for years and was responsible for grave and systematic human rights violations against the Syrian people. 

This change of power does not mean that crimes committed in Syria shall be forgotten. The Netherlands, together with our partners in the international community, remains steadfast in its commitment to justice and a sustainable transitional justice process, as a prerequisite for political stability and peace.

The Netherlands emphasizes the importance of continuing national and international efforts to ensure accountability for crimes committed by the Assad-regime. In this regard, the Netherlands welcomes the work of the Commission of Inquiry, particularly its recent report on ‘Arbitrary Detention, Torture, and Ill-Treatment by former Government Forces in the Syrian Arab Republic’.

Today, let me stress that the work of the Commission is as crucial as ever in ensuring that these crimes do not go unpunished and the human rights situation in Syria is adequately monitored until stability returns. In that context, the Netherlands is deeply concerned about reports of violence in the coastal region of Syria. This must be investigated and perpetrators held accountable.

The Netherlands commends the interim government for its positive engagement with the Commission so far, as well as with OHCHR, the OPCW and the UN-mandated mechanisms IIIM and IIMP – and wishes for this cooperation to continue and further materialize in the access they require in order to fulfill their crucial mandates.  

Dear members of the Commission, how can the international community best support your work, now that you have access to Syrian territory, to ensure that your mandate is carried out as efficiently as possible?