The terrorist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, banned by the Security Council, and other armed groups, after taking control of several Syrian cities in the last few days, also established their dominance over the capital Damascus. A large number of Syrian citizens took to the streets to celebrate amid reports of President Bashar al-Assad leaving the country. The head of human rights affairs said that there is hope and restlessness in the minds of Syrian citizens for the future. “Hope that this will be an opportunity to build our country’s future on the foundation of human rights, freedom and justice, and anxiety, because so much is still uncertain.” During the nearly decade and a half civil war in Syria, millions of people have lost their lives. Millions were injured, more than a million were missing. Accountability must be ensured. 14 million Syrian civilians have been displaced from their homes in extremely difficult conditions. A large number of them have taken refuge in other countries. The head of Human Rights Affairs said that over the past few years, he has met many of these displaced people and felt first-hand their desperation and shock. Many of these people either suffered or witnessed serious human rights violations, including torture and chemical weapons attacks. According to the UN High Commissioner, any political transitional process must hold perpetrators of serious human rights violations accountable. At the same time, it is important to guarantee that the perpetrators will be brought to justice. “It is imperative that all evidence is collected and diligently preserved for future use. Reforming the security system will be important.” Volker Turk noted that the transitional process will also have to focus on the tragedy of the disappeared. The conflict is still ongoing in some parts of Syria, including the north-eastern part of the country. In view of this, he has appealed to all parties to discharge their stipulated responsibilities under international humanitarian and human rights law. Protection of Human Rights The Chief of Human Rights Affairs said that the protection of all minorities has to be ensured and any retaliatory actions should be stopped. These acts must be avoided at all costs. “The only way forward is a nationally owned political process to end all suffering, all The aspirations of Syrian citizens should be realized and truth, justice, reparations, healing and reconciliation should be promoted.” The High Commissioner for Human Rights said that the protection of human rights of all Syrian citizens must be placed at the heart of this process, and women And their participation, including that of the youth, will have to be ensured. “Syria’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity must be restored. My office stands ready to support this transitional process.” Earlier, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in his statement issued on Sunday that after 14 years of brutal war in Syria and the fall of a long dictatorial regime, the common Citizens have the opportunity to move towards a stable and peaceful future. He reiterated the call for the rights of all Syrian citizens to be protected without discrimination at this sensitive moment.
