Statement by: Ms Yunei Kim, First Secretary, Australian Mission to the UN

As delivered

Australia thanks the co-facilitators Qatar and the US for their ongoing leadership on this resolution.

Chair,

Australia remains gravely concerned about the human rights and humanitarian situation in Syria, with over 16 million people in Syria in need of humanitarian assistance, including almost 7.5 million children.

The Assad regime has continuously committed grave human rights violations and violations of international humanitarian law since the start of the conflict in 2011, and this resolution aims to hold the regime accountable for the use of violence against its own people.

We welcome updates to the resolution this year, particularly focusing on the ongoing conflict and violations of human rights, the impact of the conflict on women and children, the need for free and fair elections conducted in line with a political solution and UNSC Resolution 2254, and the safety of Syrian refugees in neighbouring countries.

Australia will continue to support the international community’s efforts to hold the warring parties to account for war crimes in Syria, including through accountability mechanisms like the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism for Syria and the Independent Institution on Missing Persons, which will play an important role in clarifying the fate and whereabouts of all missing persons in Syria.

Australia is pleased to once again co-sponsor and vote in favour of this important resolution, and we call on all Member States to vote yes and support the resolution and demonstrate commitment to promoting and protecting human rights in Syria.