Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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100. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to a recent report in the media (details supplied) regarding a massacre and crime against humanity by Syrian military against civilians at Tadamon, Syria in 2013; if he will support efforts to raise the matter at international fora; if Ireland will use its position at the United Nations to highlight the massacre and support a campaign for justice for the victims of the massacre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22889/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I noted with deep concern recent media reports on the killing of civilians by the Syrian military at Tadamon in 2013.

There is considerable evidence, including in the most recent report of the UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria, that the Assad regime has engaged in a pattern of violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law, some of which may constitute crimes against humanity.

Ireland and the EU have repeatedly condemned violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law perpetrated by the Syrian regime and other actors. The protection of civilians is an obligation on all parties to conflicts, and Ireland has called on all parties to the fighting in Syria to take the necessary steps to ensure that civilians are not harmed.

In September 2020 I spoke at an event in the UN General Assembly on accountability for human rights violations by the Syrian regime, where I set out Ireland’s strong support for efforts to ensure accountability for all crimes committed in Syria. As a member of the United Nations Security Council since January 2021, Ireland has consistently called for justice and accountability for all violations and abuses of human rights law and international humanitarian law in Syria, and will continue to do so.

In addition to EU sanctions targeting the regime and its supporters, Ireland provides political and financial support to a broad range of measures to ensure full legal accountability for all war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Syria. This includes the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism (IIM), the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Syria, and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons Fact Finding Mission and Joint Investigative Mission. Ireland also supports and directly funds the Syria office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, which works to promote and protect human rights, the rule of law and accountability in Syria.