Australia in Switzerland
Bern and Geneva
Switzerland, Liechtenstein

statement735

Human Rights Council - 30th Regular Session

Interactive Dialogue with the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic

21 September 2015

Australia thanks the Commission of Inquiry for its ongoing efforts to document the litany of atrocities and abuses taking place in Syria by the Assad regime, Daesh and other violent terrorist groups.

We were sickened to see the Syrian regime recently attack civilians in a market place in Douma – killing over 100 people, including women and children. We urge the investigation of these events as a priority.

We welcome this report’s focus on the impact of the Syrian conflict on various civilian groups and communities.

We are particularly distressed to read of Daesh’s persecution of vulnerable ethnic and religious communities, in particular the Yazidis.

We welcome the Security Council’s endorsement of Special Envoy de Mistura’s plan to establish four thematic working groups to work towards a political transition in Syria.

The Australian Government recently announced a generous package to assist the Syrian people.

Australia will resettle an additional 12,000 refugees who are fleeing the conflict in Syria and Iraq.

Australia will also provide A$44 million in additional humanitarian assistance to deliver food, water, healthcare, and education to more than 240,000 Syrian and Iraqi people who have been displaced by the conflict.