Fact-finding on Syria
Earlier this week, Navi Pillay, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, briefed the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on the situation in Syria, and afterwards, gave a statement in which she condemned the Syrian government’s crackdown, warned that the situation could escalate to a civil war, and called on the UNSC to refer the matter to the International Criminal Court (ICC). (Click here to see video of her statement.) The main obstacles to UNSC action are Russia and China, both of which earlier this year vetoed a UNSC resolution condemning Syria. And though Russia has reportedly shifted its position and proposed its own condemnation resolution, Russia remains reluctant to support stricter measures such as sanctions or support an ICC referral.
The Syrian government’s refusal to grant access to its territory has significantly impeded fact-finding efforts. As noted by the recent Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on the situation of human rights in the Syrian Arab Republic — mandated earlier this year by the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) to investigate human rights violations in Syria — “[t]he failure of the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic to cooperate with OHCHR with regard to access to the country significantly hampered the work of the mission.” Thus, according to the report, the mission, among other measures, “conducted three field investigations outside the Syrian Arab Republic,” “studied information received through written communications,” and “examined more than 50 videos and numerous photographic images relating to apparent human rights violations.”
Additionally, the Arab League is still in negotiations with Syria over a proposal to send up to 500 Arab League observers into the country to monitor Syrian compliance with the Arab League’s peace plan, formulated last month as part of the Arab League’s effort to end the Syrian government’s crackdown.
Still, many valuable resources are available to track ongoing developments in Syria. Amnesty International’s “Eyes on Syria” page compiles incidents of citizens who have died while in Syrian government custody, stories of Syrian government harassment of expatriates around the world, and actions taken by activists to try to improve the human rights situation in Syria. And the International Coalition for the Responsibility to Protect has compiled links tracking the international community’s response to the unfolding crisis. Additionally, a recent Human Rights Watch report — ‘By All Means Necessary!’: Individual and Command Responsibility for Crimes against Humanity in Syria — details attacks against Syrian citizens, as reported by over 60 Syrian military and intelligence agency defectors.
