Foreign Minister Maas on the announcement by the Netherlands of its bid to submit a case against Syria to the International Court of Justice

I welcome the Dutch initiative to hold the Syrian regime to account before the International Court of Justice over the most serious human rights violations and acts of torture. It is an important step in the fight against impunity in Syria.

As a contracting Party to the UN Convention against Torture, Syria has committed itself to preventing torture in its prisons. In the past ten years of the Syria conflict, 150,000 people have disappeared; in 90 percent of these cases, the Syrian regime is responsible. More than 14,400 Syrians have died as a result of torture, almost 99 percent at the hand of the Syrian regime.

It is therefore good that Syria will now have to answer for these actions on the international stage. True and lasting peace in Syria is dependent on the perpetrators of the most serious crimes and human rights infringements being held accountable. The victims deserve justice.