UN Rights Chief in Historic Meeting in Syria’s with Caretaker Authority in Damascus
January 15, 2025
Damascus, Syria – In a historic diplomatic move, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) Volker Türk met with the caretaker authority in Damascus on Monday, January 15th. This marked the first visit by a UN rights chief to Syria since the beginning of the country’s brutal civil war in 2011.
During the meeting, Türk held discussions with caretaker Prime Minister Hussein Arnous and Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad. The talks focused on the human rights situation in Syria, including the need for accountability for past atrocities and measures to prevent further violations.
Türk stressed the importance of addressing the plight of thousands of civilians who have been forcibly disappeared or arbitrarily detained during the conflict. He also called for the release of all political prisoners and an end to the use of torture.
Arnous welcomed Türk’s visit and expressed the caretaker authority’s commitment to cooperating with the UN in promoting human rights. However, he defended the government’s crackdown on dissent, claiming it was necessary to maintain security in a country ravaged by war.
Mekdad said the Syrian government was committed to fighting terrorism and extremism. He accused Western powers of supporting armed groups seeking to overthrow the government.
The meeting came as the ongoing civil war in Syria nears its fourteenth year. The conflict has claimed the lives of hundreds of thousands of people and displaced millions more. Human rights groups have documented widespread atrocities committed by all sides in the conflict, including war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Türk’s visit was seen as a significant diplomatic breakthrough and a sign of the international community’s growing concern about the human rights situation in Syria. It is hoped that the talks will lead to concrete steps towards addressing the humanitarian crisis and holding those responsible for atrocities accountable.
However, analysts caution that the caretaker authority’s commitment to human rights remains unclear. The government has a long history of repressing dissent and denying fundamental freedoms. It remains to be seen whether Türk’s visit will result in any meaningful change in the country’s human rights record.
UN rights chief in historic meeting in Syria’s with caretaker authority in Damascus
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