"We hope there will be a positive response from the Syrian authorities so that we can help all those affected" by the violence, Laura Dupuy Lasserre told the opening of the council`s 19th session in Geneva.
The council is expected to put more pressure on the regime of President Bashar al-Assad during the session, which runs to March 23, with several member countries requesting a debate on the human rights situation on Tuesday.
"We hope that the urgent debate that has been requested can be convened so that we pass on a unanimous and robust message from the international community of condemning of the violence," said the president.
Russia asked that the request be further discussed at the end of Monday`s meeting while UN Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay gave her backing.
"I welcome the intention of the council to hold an urgent debate on the human rights situation in Syria," the rights chief said in an opening address.
The annual meeting, involving about 90 government ministers and senior officials, will also look into latest developments in Iran, Libya, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and North Korea.
(Uu.H-AK)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
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