{"id":3305,"date":"2025-10-30T17:27:27","date_gmt":"2025-10-30T22:27:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/unmissionny.orderofmalta.int\/?post_type=news&#038;p=3305"},"modified":"2025-12-10T10:33:44","modified_gmt":"2025-12-10T15:33:44","slug":"counsellor-mrs-marissa-blackett-addresses-the-third-committee-on-the-situation-of-human-rights-in-the-syrian-arab-republic-led-by-mr-paulo-sergio-pinheiro","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/unmissionny.orderofmalta.int\/en\/news\/counsellor-mrs-marissa-blackett-addresses-the-third-committee-on-the-situation-of-human-rights-in-the-syrian-arab-republic-led-by-mr-paulo-sergio-pinheiro\/","title":{"rendered":"Counsellor Mrs. Marissa Blackett Addresses the Third Committee on the Situation of Human Rights in the Syrian Arab Republic, led by Mr. Paulo S\u00e9rgio Pinheiro"},"featured_media":0,"menu_order":0,"template":"","class_list":["post-3305","news","type-news","status-publish","hentry","news_categories-delegation-and-staff","news_categories-news","news_categories-statements"],"acf":{"hidden_news":"no","evidence":"yes","focus_on":"no","breaking":"yes","news_cover":{"id":3306,"url":"https:\/\/unmissionny.orderofmalta.int\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/23\/2025\/11\/\uc2a4\ud06c\ub9b0\uc0f7-2025-11-03-\uc624\uc804-10.16.06.png"},"cover_image_copyrighted":false,"news_video":"<iframe title=\"Counsellor Marissa Blackett Addresses the Third Committee on the Syrian Arab Republic\" width=\"693\" height=\"390\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/UhznSHHUYgs?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>","news_content":"<p data-start=\"526\" data-end=\"716\">On October 30th, Counsellor Mrs. Marissa Blackett delivered a statement at the United Nations General Assembly Third Committee on the situation of human rights in the Syrian Arab Republic.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"718\" data-end=\"1389\">The session was led by Special Rapporteur Mr. Paulo S\u00e9rgio Pinheiro, Chair of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic, who presented the findings of the Commission\u2019s latest report. He noted that few could have foreseen the events of December 2024 and the wave of optimism that followed the fall of the former government, with more than one million Syrian refugees returning home for the first time in years. For the first time since the establishment of the Commission\u2019s mandate, the team has been granted access to Syria, marking a significant step toward rebuilding the country on the basis of justice, accountability, and respect for human rights.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1391\" data-end=\"2637\">Mr. Pinheiro welcomed the creation of a new Transitional Justice Authority and a National Authority on Missing Persons, and commended the interim authorities for allowing on-site visits to several regions, including Latakia, Tartus, and Sweida. However, he cautioned that despite progress, the resurgence of violence has tempered optimism. In March, an estimated 1,400 civilians were killed in massacres across Latakia, Tartus, and Hama governorates, reportedly involving members of interim government security forces. The Commission also documented extrajudicial killings, torture, and the forced displacement of Alawite civilians, alongside widespread destruction of villages and mass displacement following the July violence in Sweida. He highlighted reports of sexual violence and abductions of women and girls by armed groups, and urged urgent protection measures. Mr. Pinheiro further condemned ongoing Israeli airstrikes, which have caused civilian casualties and displacement, and called on Member States to act swiftly to prevent escalation. He emphasized that Syria\u2019s future depends on transparent accountability, inclusive governance, and international support to rebuild trust among communities.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2639\" data-end=\"3391\">Speaking on behalf of the Sovereign Order of Malta, Counsellor Marissa Blackett, in her intervention, acknowledged the emergence of new leadership in Syria as a moment of hope and renewal after more than six decades of repression and conflict. She reaffirmed the Sovereign Order of Malta\u2019s support for the Syrian people in their pursuit of peace, dignity, and reconstruction. While recognizing recent progress, she noted that the humanitarian situation remains dire: 16.5 million Syrians still require assistance, 7.4 million are internally displaced, 9 million face acute food insecurity, and 15 million need medical care. She expressed deep concern that 36 percent of public hospitals are unable to function and 19 percent have closed entirely due to funding shortages.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"3393\" data-end=\"4146\">Mrs. Blackett highlighted that through its humanitarian aid agency, Malteser International, the Order of Malta continues to operate 18 health facilities across Syria, providing therapeutic, clinical, and mental health services, and repairing damaged water networks. She noted that Malteser International co-chaired the UN Health Cluster meeting in Idlib alongside the World Health Organization and OCHA, underscoring the Order\u2019s partnership and enduring presence in Syria\u2019s most fragile regions. She joined others in urging the international community to ease restrictions that hinder the delivery of medical supplies and reconstruction materials, and to close the funding gap in the Humanitarian Response Plan, which remains only 19 percent financed.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"4148\" data-end=\"4605\">She concluded that rebuilding Syria will require more than physical reconstruction\u2014it must also ensure inclusive participation of women and minorities in shaping the nation\u2019s future. Echoing calls made during the General Debate, she stressed that the international community must move beyond emergency relief toward long-term restoration: rebuilding hospitals and schools, securing livelihoods, and enabling displaced families to return home with dignity.<\/p>\n","news_gallery":"no"},"news_categories":[{"id":20,"name":"Delegation and Staff","slug":"delegation-and-staff","description":"","link":"https:\/\/unmissionny.orderofmalta.int\/en\/news-categories\/delegation-and-staff\/"},{"id":21,"name":"News","slug":"news","description":"","link":"https:\/\/unmissionny.orderofmalta.int\/en\/news-categories\/news\/"},{"id":16,"name":"Statements","slug":"statements","description":"","link":"https:\/\/unmissionny.orderofmalta.int\/en\/news-categories\/statements\/"}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/unmissionny.orderofmalta.int\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/notizie\/3305","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/unmissionny.orderofmalta.int\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/notizie"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/unmissionny.orderofmalta.int\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/news"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/unmissionny.orderofmalta.int\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/notizie\/3305\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/unmissionny.orderofmalta.int\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3305"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}