Joint Statement by Canada and the Kingdom of the Netherlands on the decision of the International Court of Justice to grant an extension of the time limit for the submission of their Memorial
20 December 2024, The Hague
The International Court of Justice granted Canada and the Kingdom of the Netherlands an extension of the time-limit for the filing of their Memorial, in their case to hold Syria to account for its gross and systematic violations of the Convention against Torture since at least 2011, in the wake of the Assad regime’s brutal crackdown against its populace.
Canada and the Netherlands have taken note of the recent developments taking place in Syria, specifically the fall of the Assad-regime on 8 December 2024. According to Canada and the Kingdom of the Netherlands, it is necessary to ensure that their submissions to the International Court of Justice appropriately reflect these developments, which requires an evaluation of the new facts that are emerging. This is why Canada and the Netherlands have asked the International Court of Justice for an extension of the time-limit for the filing of their Memorial, which was granted on 18 December, until June 3, 2025.
Canada and the Netherlands are of the firm belief that there can be no sustainable peace and lasting reconciliation in Syria without accountability for human rights violations, as well as truth, justice, and accountability, including reparation, for the victims and survivors. Their stories must be told, and justice must be done. We remain fully committed to working towards this goal.