Brussels, 01/10/2012 (Agence Europe) - On Friday 28 September, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton welcomed the decisions taken at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva. “I am pleased that the UN Human Rights Council session (…) has demonstrated that the international community will, together, continue to condemn the most serious abuses of human rights around the world”, she said in a press release. Ashton therefore welcomed the adoption of a new resolution “by an overwhelming majority” of countries, which stresses the fact that Syria must be made accountable.
Ashton also said that the work of the UN independent commission of enquiry must continue and be strengthened, “including through the appointment of Carla del Ponte and of Vitit Muntarbhorn as new members”. She said that the commission's report exposed the “atrocities” which the Syrian people are suffering.
Del Ponte and Muntarbhorn were appointed to this commission on 28 September - until then the commission had comprised two members. The mandate of the commission, which was set up in August 2011, has been extended until March 2013. It has already received more than a thousand accounts in Syria's neighbouring countries, including proof of war crimes and crimes against humanity.