GENEVA, Dec 12 (KUNA) -- The UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir O. Pedersen called on Thursday for unrestricted access for independent monitors to secure detention sites and mass graves and related documentation emphasizing the importance of preserving and meticulously documenting evidence to ensure accountability under international humanitarian law.
In a statement issued from Geneva, Pedersen highlighted that despite extensive documentation and collected testimonies, what has been revealed represents only a fraction of the horrors within the detention system.
He said "Images from Sednaya and other detention facilities starkly underscore the unimaginable barbarity Syrians have endured and reported for years. These images are a profound testament to unspeakable suffering and pain beyond comprehension endured by those detained, their families and their loved ones." Pedersen stressed the urgent need for justice for the victims and their families stating that accountability is essential not only for recovery but also to prevent further violations.
He called for immediate support for the families of detainees, the missing and those recently released urging the prioritization of searching for missing persons and ensuring families are informed about their loved ones.
He urged for providing medical care, psychological support, legal aid and safe shelter for those affected.
Pederson also called for the immediate release of children women and men who are still held arbitrarily in detention facilities under various authorities.
He reiterated his call on all parties to cooperate with UN specialized bodies including the Independent Institution on Missing Persons, the International Impartial and Independent Mechanism and the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Syria as well as all relevant international and national bodies addressing these issues.
"The world owes it to the Syrian people to listen, to act and to work tirelessly toward a future where such horrors can never recur," he stressed. (end) imk.rk