Syria: UN investigators call for protecting evidence amid worsening humanitarian crisis
- Date: 2024-12-23 12:00
- Source: UN News
UN investigators call for protecting evidence amid worsening humanitarian crisis in Syria
GENEVA (2024) – UN investigators on Friday called for the protection and preservation of evidence of serious crimes committed in Syria, as the humanitarian crisis in the country continues to worsen.
The Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic (IICIS) said in a statement that the preservation of evidence is crucial for ensuring accountability for the crimes committed during the conflict.
“The evidence of serious crimes committed in Syria is essential for ensuring accountability and justice for the victims,” said Paulo Pinheiro, Chair of the IICIS. “This evidence must be protected and preserved so that it can be used in future prosecutions.”
The IICIS has documented numerous serious crimes committed in Syria, including war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide. The Commission has also found that the Syrian government has used torture, arbitrary detention, and enforced disappearances as a systematic and widespread practice.
The worsening humanitarian crisis in Syria is making it increasingly difficult to protect and preserve evidence of these crimes. The conflict has caused widespread destruction of infrastructure, including schools, hospitals, and homes. This destruction has also made it difficult for investigators to access evidence and interview witnesses.
The IICIS called on all parties to the conflict to cooperate with investigators and to ensure that evidence of serious crimes is not destroyed or tampered with. The Commission also called on the international community to provide support for the protection and preservation of evidence in Syria.
“The preservation of evidence in Syria is essential for ensuring that the victims of serious crimes receive justice,” said Pinheiro. “We urge all parties to the conflict to cooperate with investigators and to ensure that evidence is not destroyed or tampered with.”
Background
The Syrian civil war began in 2011 as a peaceful uprising against the government of President Bashar al-Assad. The conflict quickly escalated into a full-scale civil war, with multiple rebel groups fighting against the government. The war has caused a humanitarian crisis, with millions of people displaced and hundreds of thousands killed.
The IICIS was established by the UN Human Rights Council in 2011 to investigate human rights violations in Syria. The Commission has documented numerous serious crimes committed in Syria, including war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide.
Additional information
- The IICIS has published a number of reports on the human rights situation in Syria. These reports can be found on the IICIS website: www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/IICISyria/Pages/IICISyria.aspx
- The IICIS is supported by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). The OHCHR is the UN’s leading human rights body. It monitors human rights violations around the world and provides support to victims of human rights abuses.
- The IICIS is an independent body. It is not affiliated with any government or organization. The Commission’s findings are based on its own investigations and are not influenced by any external factors.
Syria: UN investigators call for protecting evidence amid worsening humanitarian crisis
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