UN / SYRIA TURK GENERAL ASSEMBLY

The High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk told the General Assembly that the establishment of the Independent Institution on Missing Persons in the Syrian Arab Republic, “will help to alleviate the suffering of people on all sides of the conflict, as it assists them to exercise their right – their profound need – to know what has happened to their loved ones.” UNIFEED

• Video Length: 00:01:56
• Production Date: 25 April 2024
• Asset Language: English
• Personal Subject: VOLKER TÜRK
• Corporate Name: UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS- UNHCHR
• Subject Topical: HUMAN RIGHTS; DISAPPEARANCE OF PERSONS; JUSTICE; ARMED CONFLICTS
• Geographic Subject: SYRIA
• MAMS Id: 3201568
• Parent Id: 3201568
• Alternate Title: unifeed240425c

Description

STORY: UN / SYRIA TURK GENERAL ASSEMBLY
TRT: 01:56
SOURCE: UNIFEED
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGES: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 25 APRIL 2024, NEW YORK CITY / FILE

Shotlist

FILE - NEW YORK CITY

1. Wide shot, UN Headquarters

25 APRIL 2024, NEW YORK CITY

2. Wide shot, General Assembly Hall
3. Wide shot, High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk at the GA dais
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Volker Türk, High Commissioner for Human Rights, United Nations:
“The conflict in Syria is an open wound – for millions of Syrian people, above all, including families who long for the return of their missing loved ones, and for answers about what happened to them.”
5. Med shot, GA dais
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Volker Türk, High Commissioner for Human Rights, United Nations:
“It will help to alleviate the suffering of people on all sides of the conflict, as it assists them to exercise their right – their profound need – to know what has happened to their loved ones. These are fundamental conditions for supporting reconciliation, justice and lasting peace for all Syria's people.”
7. Wide shot, GA
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Volker Türk, High Commissioner for Human Rights, United Nations:
“The Independent Institution will support all victims; and it will search for people who have gone missing on all sides– irrespective of their political affiliation, and why or when they went missing.”
9. Wide shot, Türk at the GA dais
10. SOUNDBITE (English) Volker Türk, High Commissioner for Human Rights, United Nations:
“I echo the General Assembly’s call to all States, and to all parties to the conflict in Syria, to cooperate fully with the Independent Institution, so that it can fulfil its potentially transformative mandate. In particular, it is vital to share information and data, and to enable access to Syria and other States, as well as to facilitate processes of search, identification, assistance and support to victims.”
11. Various shots, GA

Storyline

The High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk today (25 Apr) told the General Assembly that the establishment of the Independent Institution on Missing Persons in the Syrian Arab Republic, “will help to alleviate the suffering of people on all sides of the conflict, as it assists them to exercise their right – their profound need – to know what has happened to their loved ones.”

During an informal briefing to the GA following the publication of the Report of the Secretary-General on the Implementation of the resolution on the establishment of the Independent Institution, Türk stressed that these were “fundamental conditions for supporting reconciliation, justice and lasting peace for all Syria's people.”

He said, “the conflict in Syria is an open wound – for millions of Syrian people, above all, including families who long for the return of their missing loved ones, and for answers about what happened to them.”

The Commissioner for Human rights said, “the Independent Institution will support all victims; and it will search for people who have gone missing on all sides– irrespective of their political affiliation, and why or when they went missing.”

He called on “all States, and to all parties to the conflict in Syria, to cooperate fully with the Independent Institution, so that it can fulfil its potentially transformative mandate. In particular, it is vital to share information and data, and to enable access to Syria and other States, as well as to facilitate processes of search, identification, assistance and support to victims.”

On 29 June 2023, the General Assembly adopted its resolution 77/301, in which it decided to establish the Independent Institution on Missing Persons in the Syrian Arab Republic.

In that resolution, the Secretary-General was requested, with the support of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), to develop the terms of reference of the Independent Institution, within 80 working days of its adoption, in consultation with all other relevant actors, including with the full and meaningful participation of victims, survivors and families.

The Secretary-General was also requested to take, without delay, the steps, measures and arrangements necessary for the speedy establishment and full functioning of the Independent Institution, building on existing capacities and survivor-informed best practices, including recruiting or allocating impartial and experienced staff with relevant skills and expertise. Finally, the Secretary-General was requested to report on the implementation of the resolution within 100 working days of its adoption.

The Independent Institution is mandated to clarify the fate and whereabouts of all missing persons in the Syrian Arab Republic and to provide adequate support to victims, survivors and the families of those missing, in close cooperation and complementarity with all relevant actors.