A/HRC/RES/39/15 43. Welcomes the work of the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism to Assist in the Investigation and Prosecution of Persons Responsible for the Most Serious Crimes under International Law Committed in the Syrian Arab Republic since March 2011, as mandated by the General Assembly in resolution 71/248 of 21 December 2016, including its close cooperation with the Commission of Inquiry and Syrian civil society, so that the voices of victims are heard, any evidence of crimes is collected and criminal prosecution proceeds; 44. Invites Member States to actively support the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism, including by considering the provision of information and data on the most serious crimes under international law committed in the Syrian Arab Republic, and to provide adequate, multiannual, financial means for its functioning; 45. Deplores the grave humanitarian situation in the Syrian Arab Republic and expresses deep concern at the plight of the approximately 1.5 million Syrians living in hardto-reach areas in the country, whose needs are particularly acute and who require full, immediate and safe humanitarian assistance; 46. Strongly condemns the Syrian authorities’ removal of humanitarian aid from United Nations-approved convoys, including medical aid and supplies intended to reach desperate populations deprived of food, medical aid and vital necessities; 47. Demands that the Syrian authorities facilitate, and all other parties to the conflict do not hinder, the full, immediate and safe access of the United Nations and humanitarian actors, and that they ensure that the delivery of humanitarian aid reaches all those in need, including in hard-to-reach areas, in accordance with relevant Security Council resolutions, and calls upon Member States to fully fund the United Nations appeals; 48. Expresses deep concern for the more than 5.6 million refugees in the region fleeing the violence in the Syrian Arab Republic, welcomes the efforts of the neighbouring countries, Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan and Iraq, as well as of Egypt, to host Syrian refugees, acknowledges the socioeconomic consequences of the presence of large-scale refugee populations in those countries and urges the international community to provide urgent financial support to enable the host countries to respond to the growing humanitarian needs of Syrian refugees, including the particular needs of women and girls, while emphasizing the principles of responsibility and burden-sharing; 49. Notes those States outside the region that have put in place measures and policies to assist and to host Syrian refugees, encourages them to do more, and also encourages other States outside the region to consider implementing similar measures and policies, also with a view to providing Syrian refugees with protection and humanitarian assistance; 50. Welcomes the relevant international conferences on supporting the Syrian people, notably the second conference entitled “Supporting the future of Syria and the region” hosted by the European Union in Brussels on 24 and 25 April 2018, and renews its call for the international community to deliver in full all pledges; 51. Reaffirms that there can only be a political solution to the conflict in the Syrian Arab Republic, demands that all parties work towards a genuine political transition based on the Geneva communiqué and Security Council resolution 2254 (2015), within the framework of the United Nations-led intra-Syrian talks in Geneva and with the equal voice and full and meaningful leadership and participation of women in decision-making and in all efforts consistent with Council resolution 1325 (2000) of 31 October 2000 and subsequent resolutions on women, peace and security, that meets the legitimate aspirations of the Syrian people for a civil, democratic and pluralistic State, in which all citizens receive equal protection, regardless of gender, religion or ethnicity, and welcomes the inclusion of civil society in this process; 52. Decides to remain seized of the matter. 40th meeting 28 September 2018 7