The head of the Syrian National Commission for Detainees and Missing Persons, Yasser Al-Farhan, stressed the importance of documentation and discussions taking place at the UN Human Rights Council in the Swiss city of Geneva as an important step to reveal the facts and expose “the horrible war crimes against civilians.”
Al-Farhan also stressed the importance of preventing the Assad regime and its allies from committing more war crimes against civilians in Syria. He also emphasized accountability as key to reaching a political solution in Syria. He called for the referral of the documents and discussions currently taking place within the UN Human Rights Council on war crimes and crimes against humanity taking place in Syria and other countries to international courts.
The Assad regime’s continued slaughter of civilians by bombing residential areas, torture in prisons, arbitrary detention and enforced disappearances have clearly shown that the cessation of these crimes requires firm international action.
The UN Human Rights Council on Monday began its 40th session as participants discussed the situation of human rights in Syria and in 30 other countries around the world.
The Euro-Syrian Democratic Forum and the No Peace Without Justice rights group held a side event during the session under the title “Death Notifications and Negation of Justice in Syria bringing together senior officials and human rights experts.
The panelists stressed that the enforced disappearance, arbitrary detention and torture are among the more widespread and systematic human rights violations in Syria. They also noted that the Assad regime’s confirmation of the deaths of detainees without offering details about the reasons and the circumstances of the death is not enough for Syrian to have their rights heard in justice.
Moreover, the panelists stressed that the “enforced disappearances, torture and indiscriminate arrests remain an inherent part of the Syrian armed forces and pro-Assad militias’ strategies.” They added: “The regime’s tactic serves to punish large parts of the Syrian population. It also fosters fear amongst families, relatives and whole communities.” They said that the international community has a duty to ensure justice and accountability. (Source: Syrian Coalition’s Media Department)
