COI Syria Presser 12SEP2023
/
45:48
/
MP4
/
3.1 GB

Edited News | HRC

COI Syria Presser 12SEP2023

The “dire needs” of Syrians have been systematically ignored during the 12 years of conflict in the country, the UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria warned on Tuesday. In its latest report, the United Nations Human Rights Council (OHCHR) body found that attacks on civilians, escalating fighting, economic decline and human rights violations persist, despite the country’s re-admission to the League of Arab States. The continued war in Syria is a “monument to the failure of diplomacy” said Paulo Pinheiro, Chair of the Commission of Inquiry. Speaking in Geneva at the launch of the report, Mr Pinheiro called on all parties to the conflict to cease the attacks on civilians following the recent wave of demonstrations. He urged the government in Damascus to respond positively to Syrians’ legitimate aspirations and rights before the country “plunges deeper into escalating violence and economic decline”.

The Commission Chairperson reiterated the need to review “unilateral coercive measures” imposed by the European Union, the United States, Canada, Australia and Switzerland from 2011 onwards, while calling for the easing of sanctions since the earthquake on 6 February 2023 to be maintained. He pointed out that at the time of the earthquake, the Commission received “multiple reports of aid diversion, extortion and corruption,” and documented “obstruction and interference in aid delivery” in the immediate aftermath of the earthquake.

The “Government and other parties needless hindered lifesaving aid” and “no party answered our call for a ceasefire. They continue shelling and they continue the war without any problems,” Mr Pinheiro said.

Citing the report, Mr Pinheiro explained that a single airstrike on 25 June killed or injured over 37 civilians at an outdoor vegetable market in Idlib in northwest Syria held by opposition forces that should have been observable to the military coordinators of the attack. He added that of the 15 attacks documented in the earthquake-affected area, several may constitute war crimes.

Commenting on the impact on ordinary Syrians, Commissioner Hanny Megally described the experience of truffle gatherers in central Syria: “We're seeing an increase, [in] people fighting over economic needs and survival and that results in violence, abductions.” People fighting over the truffle market is “an example of the country descending into that state of insecurity”, he said.

In a positive development, Mr. Pinheiro noted that families seeking clarity on the fate of detained, disappeared and missing loved ones had received “long-awaited welcome news” following the establishment of the Independent Institution on Missing Persons in Syria by the General Assembly in June. “I think if we have positive news to share with you, it is precisely the establishment of this mechanism on the missing,” he said.

Mr. Megally voiced concerns over beliefs that “peace is returning to Syria” and that

“Normalization is being talked about”. He warned that conversely, the report documents “a rise in unrest and a rise in conflict”.

STORY: LATEST REPORT ON SYRIA - HRC COMMISSION OF INQUIRY

TRT: 04:31”

SOURCE: UNTV CH
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH
ASPECT RATIO: 16:9

DATELINE: 12 SEPT 2023, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

SHOTLIST

  1. Exterior wide shot, United Nations flag flying.
  2. Wide shot of panel and attendees at press briefing.
  3. SOUNDBITE: (ENGLISH) Paulo Pinheiro, Chair of the UN Syria Commission of Inquiry:“Despite diplomatic efforts to stabilize the situation in Syria, including through the readmission to the League of Arab States, Syrians continue to suffer from escalating fight and unrest along multiple front lines, extremely severe economic deterioration and persistent human rights violations and abuse.”
  1. Attendee at briefing.
  2. SOUNDBITE: (ENGLISH) Paulo Pinheiro, Chair of the UN Syria Commission of Inquiry: “Before Syria plunges deeper into this cycle of escalating violence and economic decline, the Commission would like to call on the key actors to respond to the dire needs of the civilian population.”
  3. Wide shot behind panel and attendees at press briefing.
  4. SOUNDBITE: (ENGLISH) Paulo Pinheiro, Chair of the UN Syria Commission of Inquiry: “The needs of the Syrian people have been systematically ignored by all the parties to this conflict during the last 12 years.”
  5. Wide shot of panel.
  6. SOUNDBITE: (ENGLISH) Hanny Magelly, Commissioner of the UN Syria Commission of Inquiry: “In central Syria, you know, we relate in the report to the experience of truffle gatherers, where we're seeing, again, an increase, you know, people are fighting over economic needs and survival and that results in violence, abductions. People are fighting over the, you know, the truffle marketing, so to speak, as an example of the country descending into that state of insecurity.”
  7. Photographer at briefing.
  8. SOUNDBITE: (ENGLISH) Paulo Pinheiro, Chair of the UN Syria Commission of Inquiry: “The Commission received multiple reports at that time of aid diversion, extortion and corruption and documented aid obstruction and interference in aid delivery in the immediate aftermath of the earthquake.
  9. Mid-view of attendees.
  10. SOUNDBITE: (ENGLISH) Paulo Pinheiro, Chair of the UN Syria Commission of Inquiry: “Following this devastating earthquake in February, the report documents how the government of the parties needless hindered life-saving aid and no party decided to answer our call for a cease-fire, and they continue shelling and they continue the war without any problems.”
  1. Photographer at briefing.
  2. SOUNDBITE: (ENGLISH) Paulo Pinheiro, Chair of the UN Syria Commission of Inquiry: “Family seeking clarity on the fate of detained, disappear and missing loved ones also receive the long-awaited welcome news following the establishment of the Independent Institution of Missing Persons in Syria by the General Assembly in June. I think if we have a positive news to share with you is precisely the establishment of this mechanism on the missing.”
  3. Wide view of briefing.
  4. SOUNDBITE: (ENGLISH) Hanny Magelly, Commissioner of the UN Syria Commission of Inquiry: “We are concerned that the rest of the world thinks that peace is returning to Syria or that the State may have won the war and that normalization is what's being talked about, etc. And yet, if you read our report, you'll see what we're seeing is a rise in unrest and a rise in conflict.”
  5. Wide of attendees at briefing
  6. SOUNDBITE: (ENGLISH) Paulo Pinheiro, Chair of the UN Syria Commission of Inquiry:“The 12 years of war in Syria are a monument to the failure of diplomacy and anything that can happen in terms of diplomacy, I think that is decisive, to end the war.”
  1. Mid-shot of attendees.
  2. Close-up of attendee.
  3. Mid-view from behind panel.

Similar Stories

Justice for Syria's disappeared - Riyad Avlar – 06 October 2025

1

1

1

Edited News

Justice for Syria's disappeared - Riyad Avlar – 06 October 2025 ENG FRA

Syria prison survivor seeks justice for the missing with UN backing.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk at Human Rights Council on Ukraine: “This war needs to end”

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk at Human Rights Council on Ukraine: “This war needs to end” ENG FRA

UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk on Friday warned that three and a half years after Russia’s full-scale invasion, the war in Ukraine has entered an even more dangerous and deadly stage for Ukrainian civilians, under relentless bombardment of their schools, hospitals, and shelters.

30 minutes in a Gaza hospital - UNICEF - WHO - ICRC

1

1

1

Edited News | UNICEF , WHO , ICRC

30 minutes in a Gaza hospital - UNICEF - WHO - ICRC ENG FRA

Quadcopter victims, terror and death: 30 minutes in a Gaza hospital 

UN aid teams on Friday highlighted the disturbing situation in Gaza’s makeshift hospitals, where premature babies cry for scant oxygen and medics attempt to save child survivors targeted by airstrikes in their tents and quadcopter victims reportedly shot while fetching bread.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk’s Oral update to the Human Rights Council on the situation in Haiti

2

1

2

Edited News | OHCHR

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk’s Oral update to the Human Rights Council on the situation in Haiti ENG FRA

UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk on Thursday delivered his oral update to the UN Human Rights Council’s 60th session on the human rights situation in Haiti.

The High Commissioner welcomed Wednesday’s decision of the UN Security Council to strengthen the Multinational Security Support mission by transitioning to the Gang Suppression Force for Haiti, stating it is a strong signal of international support for the Haitian people.

Gaza aid update - UNICEF, OCHA 30 September 2025

1

1

1

Edited News | OCHA , UNICEF

Gaza aid update - UNICEF, OCHA 30 September 2025 ENG FRA

Gaza: As world waits for US peace plan news, UN aid teams stress need for ceasefire

UN agencies reiterated calls for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza on Tuesday to help alleviate Palestinian suffering, as a new US 20-point plan raised hopes of a halt to the fighting.

Gaza healthcare attacks – WHO

1

1

1

Edited News | WHO

Gaza healthcare attacks – WHO ENG FRA

The ongoing Israeli military offensive in Gaza City continues to overwhelm the war-torn enclave’s medical professionals, with four more hospitals forced to shut down this month alone, the UN World Health Organization said on Friday.

UN Report: Civilian detainees subjected to troubling patterns of torture and ill treatment since Russia’s full scale attack on Ukraine

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

UN Report: Civilian detainees subjected to troubling patterns of torture and ill treatment since Russia’s full scale attack on Ukraine ENG FRA

A UN Human Rights report released today details the dire situation of thousands of civilians detained since Russia’s full-scale armed attack on Ukraine in 2022. 

Sudan cholera update WHO - UNICEF

1

1

1

Edited News | WHO , UNICEF

Sudan cholera update WHO - UNICEF ENG FRA

Sudan war: Life-saving cholera vaccination campaign begins in Darfur

Amid the devastating war in Sudan, UN aid teams are overcoming major obstacles to curb a cholera outbreak claiming lives across the country, with young children particularly at risk.

Afghanistan earthquake response – UN Women 19 September 2025

2

1

2

Edited News , B-roll | UN WOMEN

Afghanistan earthquake response – UN Women 19 September 2025 ENG FRA

Women and girls still reeling from Afghanistan's recent deadly earthquake face even greater suffering rebuilding their lives and livelihoods without much more help from the international community, UN Women said on Friday.

UN report: Sudan crisis deepens amid rising civilian casualties - UN Human rights spokesperson Jeremy Laurence and OHCHR Sudan Representative Li Fung

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

UN report: Sudan crisis deepens amid rising civilian casualties - UN Human rights spokesperson Jeremy Laurence and OHCHR Sudan Representative Li Fung ENG FRA

Rising civilian casualties, growing ethnic violence and the grim humanitarian situation in Sudan underscore how the crisis there is deepening, according to a UN Human rights report published today.

'Not a Target' UN Geneva Protest - 18 September 2025

1

1

1

Edited News | UNITED NATIONS

'Not a Target' UN Geneva Protest - 18 September 2025 ENG FRA

United Nations agencies staff demonstrates on Place des Nations in Geneva to denounce the killing of their colleagues in Gaza.

WMO - World Water Monitor 18 September 2025

1

1

1

Edited News | WMO

WMO - World Water Monitor 18 September 2025 ENG FRA

The world’s water resources face growing pressure from climate change while emergencies related to the vital resource are increasingly impacting lives and livelihoods, the UN World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said on Thursday.