The EU welcomes the adoption of the UN mechanism for the missing in Syria

July 2 (EUROPA PRESS) –

The European Union has welcomed this Sunday with satisfaction the adoption of a resolution by the General Assembly of the United Nations for the establishment of a new mechanism for missing persons in Syria.

Brussels welcomes the approval of this mechanism, intended to “provide crucial support to meet the needs of victims, survivors and families of the disappeared,” according to the EU’s External Action Service in a statement.

The EU recalls that Syria has one of the highest numbers of people detained, kidnapped and missing in the world due to the current conflict, approximately 100,000 according to UN estimates.

Syria’s permanent representative to the United Nations, Bassam Sabbagh, criticized the measure, alleging that the mechanism — which does not include any working method, as well as regulations — is a “pretext” to interfere in the country’s internal affairs and exert pressure against the Syrian government.

The creation of an independent mechanism to investigate disappearances in Syria had been a constant demand from NGOs such as Human Rights Watch (HRW) or Amnesty International (AI), who point directly to the Government of Syrian President Bashar al Assad as the main “responsible “.

That is why “the new mechanism will address a basic humanitarian imperative on behalf of all these people” and “the European Union stands ready to support the new mechanism once all preparations have been completed,” according to Brussels.