The United Nations human rights chief on Monday said that no amnesty should be possible for people suspected of committing war crimes or crimes against humanity, as Geneva hosted troubled talks aimed at ending Syria’s war.
“We do have a principled position in the United Nations that no amnesties should be considered for those suspected of having committed crimes against humanity or war crimes,” UN rights chief Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein told reporters in Geneva.
His comments came as indirect UN-brokered talks between Syria’s warring parties, which had been scheduled to start last week, continued to struggle to get off the ground.
Zeid said the talks must go forward and secure a swift end to the violence.
“Naturally after five years of this most gruesome spectacle of seeing the Syrian public subjected to public executions we hope and pray that the talks being mediated by (United Nations Syria envoy) Staffan de Mistura will lead to the end of all of these horrific abuses, human rights abuses, violations of international humanitarian law,” Zeid said.
He condemned the tragic scenes unfolding in the besieged city of Madaya, where 46 people have starved to death since December, according to the Doctors Without Borders (MSF) charity, which warned Saturday dozens more were on the verge of death.