We thank the High Commissioner and his team and align ourselves with the EU statement.
We remain gravely concerned about the erosion of human rights in a number of countries, including in Syria, South Sudan, Iran, Burma and DPRK, which we will address later this session.
The UK remains committed to supporting the people of Iraq and Syria, who face a severe threat from ISIL. The human rights abuses committed by ISIL are horrific. Attacks against individuals based on their religious or ethnic affiliation, sexual and gender based violence, and the use of children as participants in the armed conflict, underline ISIL’s utter disregard for human rights and international law. We are also disturbed by the continued reports of human rights abusers committed by volunteer Popular Mobilisation Forces and other Shia militias, and by reports of violations committed by the Iraqi Security Forces. While we welcome the progress Prime Minister Abadi has made, and his commitment to addressing human rights abuses and violations, and holding those responsible to account, it is important that these commitments are translated into action.
SOURCE: UK Mission to the United Nations Geneva
GENEVA, 17 June 2015.