UN human rights office to send team to Syria next week

General view of buildings, in Damascus
A woman and her daughter look at the view of buildings, after Syria's Bashar al-Assad was ousted, in Damascus, Syria, December 20, 2024. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh
Source: REUTERS

The U.N. human rights office will send a small team of human rights officers to Syria next week for the first time in years following the overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad, U.N. spokesperson Thameen Al-Kheetan told a press briefing on Friday.

As part of the takeover, rebels have flung open prisons and government offices and raising fresh hopes for accountability for crimes committed during Syria's more than 13-year civil war.

Under Assad, the U.N. human rights team has not been allowed in Syria for years, Al-Kheetan said, and has been monitoring abuses remotely.

He said that the team would support human rights issues and help ensure that any power transition is "inclusive and within the framework of international law". "It is important for us to start establishing a presence," he said. A U.N. investigative body also hopes to travel to Syria to secure evidence that could implicate top officials of the former government.

RECOMMENDED FOR YOU

There IS a war in Europe!' - Magyar

Hungary's Magyar calls for stronger military amid European uncertainty

This article was produced by Reuters news agency. It has not been edited by Global South World.