Statement by Ambassador Susan E. Rice, U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations, on the UN Human Rights Council's Special Session on Syria

Susan E. Rice
U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations 
U.S. Mission to the United Nations 

New York, NY

August 23, 2011

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

I welcome today’s decision by the UN Human Rights Council to launch an independent investigation into the gross human rights abuses committed by the Assad regime in Syria. With today’s resolution, which the United States supported alongside 32 countries from every region of the world, the chorus of international condemnation against the Syrian regime has grown louder and more unified. Yesterday’s attacks on protestors after a visit by UN humanitarians should only further unite the world against the regime’s brazen crackdown.

The United States has long insisted that President Assad lead a democratic transition or get out of the way. He has refused to lead responsibly and now must go. We have reinforced this message by applying international pressure and targeted sanctions to ensure that his regime feels the consequences of its extreme brutality.

We will pursue additional action in the Security Council to increase pressure on the regime, and we call on the Syrian government to allow the commission of inquiry to fulfill its mandate. We stand with the people of Syria, who are demanding a government that represents their will and respects their universal human rights.

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