45th session of the Human Rights Council. Statement delivered by Ambassador Anna Jardfelt.
Madam President,
I am honoured to deliver this statement on behalf of the Nordic countries.
We thank the Commission of Inquiry. The devastating July report on Idlib still haunts us, not least the likely regime war crimes. Your new report, adds additional clarity on Idlib, but we also take note of your findings on Afrin and Ra's al-Ayn regions.
It also adds important insights into the situation in regime-controlled areas. In Daraa and Suwayda, we see evidence of "systematic and widespread" human rights violations and abuses, including extrajudicial killings, disappearances and forced conscription.
Accountability for the most serious crimes remains critical. We reaffirm our strong support for both the COI and the IIIM.
We fully support Special Envoy Pedersen and a political settlement in line with UN Security Council resolution 2254.
We must support the Syrian population. The limitations to humanitarian access imposed by the Security Council this year were very disappointing.
These decisions are already impacting the delivery of aid and couldn't have come at a worse time, especially in the face of Covid-19.
Finally, we are very concerned about recurring service cuts at the Alouk water pumping station in al-Hassakeh Governorate that supplies half a million people with drinking water. We implore all parties to urgently resolve this issue with the goal of reaching a sustainable solution.
Thank you.