Security Council Open Debate on Sexual Violence in Conflict, April 2018: Syria
Security Council Open Debate on Sexual Violence in Conflict, April 2018: Syria (Extract 1)
First, the Government of my country completely rejects the allegations in the report that the Syrian Government practices sexual violence. We are surprised that the Special Representative would rely on fabricated reports prepared by the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism to Assist in the Investigation and Prosecution of Those Responsible for the Most Serious Crimes under International Law Committed in the Syrian Arab Republic since March 2011. The Mechanism relies on information gathered from open sources as well as armed and terrorist groups, notably the so-called White Helmets, and does not verify the sources of that information or its credibility.
Security Council Open Debate on Sexual Violence in Conflict, April 2018: Syria (Extract 2)
Secondly, the report does not discuss the suffering of Syrian women and girls in refugee camps in neighbouring countries, and this is an essential matter. In that regard, allow us to express our deep concern and pain over the ongoing instances of rape of women and children and the phenomenon of human trafficking, sexual harassment and organ trafficking in Turkish camps, and forced marriage in Jordanian camps, and the sexual exploitation of hundreds of Syrian women by humanitarian workers from international organizations working in those camps. This is happening before the eyes of the entire world.
Security Council Open Debate on Sexual Violence in Conflict, April 2018: Syria (Extract 3)
In conclusion, I would like to underscore that Syria remains committed to supporting international efforts to end all forms of sexual violence, punishing their perpetrators and instigators and breaking the silence and unjustified disregard.