(15 Jan 2025)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Damascus, Syria – 15 January 2025
1. Wide of U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk walking into briefing
2. Various cutaways of briefing
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Volker Türk, U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights:
“As the international community considers the issue of sanctions, it will be critical to bear in mind the impact that sanctions have on the lives of the Syrian people. I therefore call for an urgent reconsideration of sectoral sanctions with a view to lifting them."
3. Various cutaways of briefing
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Volker Türk, U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights:
“The ongoing conflicts and hostilities must end. During the visit, I met the leader of the caretaker authorities, Ahmed al-Sharaa. He acknowledged and assured me of the importance of respect for human rights for all Syrians and all different components of Syrian society, as well as the pursuit of healing, trust-building and social cohesion and the reform of institutions.”
5. Various cutaways of briefing
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Volker Türk, U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights:
“I came here to offer my reassurances that my office, the Human Rights Office of the United Nations, will continue to support inclusive, nationally owned and nationally driven processes. There are still very real threats to serious territorial integrity, independence and sovereignty, which must be fully respected and rigorously upheld.”
7. Various cutaways of briefing
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Volker Türk, U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights:
“Transitional justice is crucial as Syria moves forward. Transitional justice aims to provide recognition to victims. It enhances the trust of individuals and state institutions. It reinforces respect for human rights, and it promotes the rule of law. Revenge and vengeance are never the answer. Instead, there needs to be a fully nationally owned healing, truth telling and reconciliation process.”
9. Cutaway of briefing
10. SOUNDBITE (English) Volker Türk, U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights:
“There is so much to be done. This is such an important moment, with tremendous challenges and risks ahead. The people of Syria need every ounce of help they can get to rebuild a country that works for all Syrians.”
11. Wide of briefing
STORYLINE:
The United Nations human rights chief on Wednesday called for the lifting of Western sanctions imposed on Syria over its yearslong civil war, now that former leader Bashar Assad has been ousted and sent into exile.
While visiting Syria, Volker Türk also urged transitional justice for victims, saying it enhances public trust in state institutions as the county moves ahead under its de facto new leaders.
“Revenge and vengeance are never the answer,” Türk said, a month after the Assad family’s decades-long dynasty ended when insurgent groups captured Damascus.
Türk said he met with Ahmad al-Sharaa, who leads Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the group leading the new authority in Syria.
He said al-Sharaa assured him of the importance of respecting human rights for all Syrians, and said authorities will work on social cohesion and institutional reform.
Syria’s conflict broke out in early 2011 and left nearly half a million people dead and millions displaced, including many who are now refugees. The war caused wide destruction that will need tens of billions of dollars to rebuild.
“The people of Syria need every ounce of help they can get to rebuild a country that works for all Syrians,” Türk said.
“The ongoing conflicts and hostilities must end,” he said.
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