Syria: The head of the United Nations Accountability Mechanism concludes his first historic visit to the country

In a statement issued today, Monday, the head of the mechanism said that he visited “A site of great importance” After meeting with representatives of the interim authorities, he noted that even in one of the facilities, “Mountains of government documents reveal the shocking efficiency of documenting the regime’s horrific crimes.”

Mr Beattie highlighted the urgent need to preserve evidence before it is lost forever, adding: “Time is running out. There is little chance of securing these sites and the materials they contain. And every day we fail to do so, we risk losing the opportunity for comprehensive accountability.”

During his visit, Mr. Beatty met with a number of Syrians affected by crimes committed over the past decade, including those who recently returned to the country after years of exile, and said their testimonies underscored the demand for truth, justice and inclusion.

He added: “Meeting with those who have experienced loss and exile was another shocking reminder of the human cost of this conflict. They are asking: Where is the international community? They are demanding accountability, they want answers for their loved ones and justice for the crimes committed against them.”

Mr. Beatty said he was deeply impressed by the resilience of the Syrians he met in Damascus, “Who have endured years of inexplicable inhumanity.” They demand that their voices be heard and that the reality of what they have suffered be revealed. He stressed that the mechanism is fully committed to this matter and ensuring that its work focuses on Syrian victims and survivors.

He also stressed that achieving accountability will require cooperation and coordination between a wide range of actors, including Syrian civil society organizations and international partners.

He said the priority must be to preserve evidence of crimes committed, avoid repetition, and ensure that all victims are comprehensively represented in the pursuit of justice. He added that the mechanism was created specifically to assist this effort, and is ready to play its full role.

It is worth noting that International, impartial and independent mechanism It is a United Nations organization, established in December 2016 by the General Assembly. It is tasked with assisting in the investigation and prosecution of individuals responsible for committing the most serious international crimes in Syria since March 2011, including war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide.