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<p>We condemn violations of human rights by all parties in Syria. We are very concerned
about reports of high civilian casualties in west Aleppo resulting from an Opposition
offensive. It is essential that all parties to the conflict comply with international
humanitarian law and minimise civilian casualties. We are absolutely clear, however,
that it is the relentless airstrikes and barbaric attacks by the regime and its backers
which are fuelling this violence, prolonging the conflict, deepening civilian suffering,
and driving terrorism. The UN-Mandated Joint Investigative Mechanism has now concluded
that the Asad regime has used chemical weapons against the Syrian people on at least
three occasions and Daesh on one.</p><p>It is for a competent court to decide when
a war crime has been committed. The UK co-sponsored a UN Security Council resolution
in 2014 to refer all those who are alleged to be responsible for war-crimes and crimes
against humanity in Syria, regardless of affiliation, to the International Criminal
Court. Russia and China chose to veto this resolution. Russia has used its veto at
the Security Council five times in recent years on resolutions about Syria.</p><p>We
discuss the situation in Syria regularly with international counterparts, including
alleged atrocities being committed in Syria. We raised our concerns in the UN Human
Rights Council's Special Session on Aleppo which was held at the UK's request on 21
October and which passed a resolution mandating the UN Commission of Inquiry to investigate
the bombing of the humanitarian aid convoy on 19 September. We consistently use our
interventions at the UN Security Council to highlight the suffering of the Syrian
people and to urge an end to the violence and the indiscriminate bombing of civilians.</p><p>We
continue to support the UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria, which is mandated by the
Human Rights Council to investigate all alleged violations of international human
rights law and humanitarian law in Syria. We also fund non-governmental organisations
to gather evidence on violations with a view to ensuring perpetrators are one day
held to account.</p>
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