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<p>The protection of civilians in Syria is a priority for this Government. We will
continue to support all efforts to reduce the level of violence in Syria, and use
all diplomatic tools to work for a political solution which allows Syrians to decide
their own future. The UK has played a leading role in the UN Security Council, supporting
resolutions aimed at improving humanitarian access, civilian protection and investigating
chemical weapons attacks.</p><p>We will continue to pursue accountability in Syria,
including through support for robust EU sanctions against the Asad regime. With UK
support, the EU now has sanctions in place against 240 persons and 67 entities linked
to the violent repression of civilians in Syria. The UK will maintain support for
the UN Commission of Inquiry which is reporting on human rights violations and abuses;
and the International Impartial and Independent Mechanism (IIIM) whose role is to
investigate and collect evidence of crimes committed in Syria. The UK is contributing
to the start-up costs of the IIIM.</p><p>The UK continues to play a leading role in
the fight against Daesh, which has been guilty of so many atrocities against civilians.
We and the Coalition against Daesh take all allegations of civilian casualties seriously
and ensure they are subsequently investigated. All possible precautions are taken
to minimise the risk of civilian casualties when conducting any form of military operation.
Through our rigorous targeting processes we will continue to seek to minimise the
risk of civilian casualties.</p>
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