In the aftermath of military operations that led to the restoration of control over Damascus and all areas previously under the control of the Syrian regime, and in light of recent developments, the Chemical Violations Documentation Center of Syria (CVDCS) emphasizes the need to handle with caution and responsibility the sites that were previously targeted by chemical weapons by the Syrian regime. This includes locations housing research facilities and suspected stockpiles of biological weapons and chemical munitions, which are critical for international investigations and require heightened protection to ensure the integrity of evidence and the safety of the surrounding environment.
The center underscores the importance of securing these sites by deploying professional security teams to safeguard them from any interventions that could jeopardize the evidence. It also stresses the necessity of coordinating with relevant international organizations, particularly the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), and the teams it has established for the Syrian file.
Additionally, the center calls on all parties to refrain from entering these sites or filming within them, as such actions could undermine the credibility of international investigations.
Furthermore, the center emphasizes the need to handle these sites in accordance with international obligations, highlighting that maintaining transparency and fully cooperating with the relevant international teams reflects the Syrian Arab Republic’s commitment to effective reconstruction and the pursuit of justice.
The center notes that chemical weapons crimes are classified as war crimes and crimes against humanity, which do not fall under statutes of limitation or any form of expiry. It reaffirms its commitment to documenting chemical violations committed in Syria and identifying those responsible, in a determined effort to bring the perpetrators to fair trials and hold them accountable.
The Chemical Violations Documentation Center of Syria stresses the need to disclose all undeclared sites by the former representative. It considers the revelation and handover of such sites a duty that reinforces the Syrian Arab Republic’s role as a key supporter of international peace and security and strengthens its transparent commitments under the Chemical Weapons Convention and the rights of member states.
Justice for the Chemical Weapons Victims
Brussels, 9 December 2024
assad_regime chemical_attack chemical_weapons justice_on_hold syria
