Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro underlined the creation of the National Transitional Authority and the national authority for disappeared people who should help reveal the fate of the more than 100,000 Syrians estimated to have disappeared forcre or disappeared.
They should also expose the truth about systematic violations such as arbitrary detention, torture and ill -treatment, and on generalized attacks that killed hundreds of thousands of civilians and mutilated millions during hostilities.
Syria continues along the transitional path after the reversal of the Assad regime last December.
Wave of reprisals
Mr. Pinheiro said the security vacuum cleaner had left after the dismissal of the armed forces and security services, as well as a lack of clarity on the new framework of justice, contributed to an atmosphere where victims of crimes and past violations tried to take the law in their hands and settle the scores.
The reprisal attacks that took place in coastal areas in March, and on a smaller scale in other parts of the country, were “partly a response to five decades of systematic crimes perpetrated by impunity security forces that affected all Syrians,” he said.
“More recently, sectarian lines of fault have also been fed by widespread hate speeches and incentives against Alawis, Off and online, including messages with false information that would often come from abroad. »»
Eye control accounts
The commission made its last visit to Syria last week and went to several places on the coast where murders and looting had occurred. The team met several civil and security authorities, as well as eyewitnesses and families of the victims.
“First -hand accounts of the survivors of these events … revealed in detail how the residential areas were attacked by large groups of armed men, including many members of factions now affiliated with the State. They explained to us how the attackers owned, mistreated and executed Alawis, “he said.
He recognized the creation by the provisional authorities of a national investigation to investigate violations as well as a high -level additional committee to maintain civil peace. In addition, dozens of alleged perpetrators have been arrested.
“Protection of civilians is essential to prevent new violations and crimes,” he said.
“We welcome the president’s commitment (Ahmed) al-Sharaa to hold responsible officials to restore the confidence of state institutions among the affected communities. »»
He also underlined A fatal attack on a Greek Orthodox church In Damascus last Sunday, claiming that the authorities must ensure the protection of places of worship and threatened communities, and the authors and catalysts must be held responsible.
Foreign intervention
Mr. Pinheiro told the Council that “the Syrian conflict did not miss internal challenges and grievances, many of which were aggravated by foreign interventions.”
In recent weeks, Israel has carried out a wave of air strikes in and around Damascus, including near the presidential palace. The military bases and the arms deposits in Daraa, Hama, Tartous and Latakia were also targeted as part of its sustained military campaign in Syria. Several civilians have been killed.
Civilian victims have also been reported in the context of Israeli operations in the Tampon zone of Quneitra and southwest Daraa monitored by the force of observer of the United Nations disengagement (Take off))
“These actions raise serious concerns of violations of international human rights and humanitarian law, as the UN Secretary General (António) recently said,” he said.
Millions in need
Mr. Pinheiro said that more than two million Syrians have returned home since December, including nearly 600,000 from neighboring countries and just under 1.5 million in -house (PDI).
“For many of the more than seven million Syrians who remain inappropriate, massive ownership challenges will have to be met following the destruction, looting and confiscation of houses and land,” he said.
In addition, he noted that “despite the recent encouraging stages towards the lifting of sectoral sanctions and the opening of the country to new investments, nearly 16.5 million Syrians remain in humanitarian assistance”. Among them, nearly three million people faced with severe food insecurity.
Mr. Pinheiro concluded his remarks, saying that “the repeated commitments of the interim authorities to protect the rights of all and all communities in Syria without discrimination of any kind are encouraging” and “should be welcomed with the necessary support of the international community”.
About the Commission
THE Independent International Commission for the Syrian Arab Republic was by the Human Rights Council In August 2011 with a mandate to investigate all alleged violations of international human rights law since March 2011.
The members are Mr. Pinheiro and the commissioners Hanny Megally and Lynn Welchman.
They are not UN staff and receive no payment for their work.
Originally published at Almouwatin.com
