Mar 30, 2012 | Advocacy
During the 19th session of the Human Rights Council, the ICJ made an oral statement during the Council’s consideration and adoption of the outcome document in the Universal Periodic Review of Syria.
The statement focussed on the lack of investigations into human rights abuses, including ongoing gross human rights violations, and called on UN bodies responsible for peace and security and human rights to take effective measures to allow regular access for humanitarian assistance, including essential supplies of food, water and medicines.
Syrian Arab Republic-oral intervention UPR-advocacy-2012 (full text in English, PDF)
Mar 29, 2012 | Advocacy
During the 19th session of the Human Rights Council, a Special Debate was held on the situation of human rights in the Syrian Arab Republic.
In an oral statement during that Debate, the ICJ expressed deep concern on the continuing deterioration of the situation in Syria.
It emphasised that the Security Council should take meaningful steps to break the cycle of impunity, including by referring the situation to the International Criminal Court, and that the General Assembly should take steps towards the suspension of Syria’s rights in the Assembly until its authorities comply with the Commission of Inquiry recommendations and put a stop to the gross human rights violations and serious violations of international humanitarian law, and hold those responsible to account.
Syria-oral intervention-advocacy-2012 (full text in English)
Sep 20, 2011 | Advocacy, Non-legal submissions
The ICJ made an intervention in the Human Rights Council during the Interactive Dialogue with the Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights following her update report on the situation in Syria.
Aug 23, 2011 | Advocacy, Non-legal submissions
The ICJ and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) stressed that accountability for human rights violations and alleged crimes is paramount, including for all those under the command of the Syrian authorities.
These include members of the Presidential Guard, the Fourth Division of the Army and the Shabbiha “civilian militia” forces.
The ICJ and OMCT welcomed the resolution adopted by the United Nations Human Rights Council, strongly condemning the continued grave and systematic human rights violations committed by the Syrian authorities and establishing an independent Commission of Inquiry to investigate the human rights situation in the country.
Syria-violation of human rights-non-legal submission-2011 (full text, PDF)
Aug 23, 2011 | Advocacy, Non-legal submissions
During a second special session on the human rights situation in Syria, the ICJ and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) addressed the Human Rights Council.
They welcomed the strong terms of the draft resolution before the Council and called for unanimous adoption of the resolution; they also called for action by all States in their capacity as members of the Security Council, or as States who might influence the Security Council, to urge the Security Council to refer the situation in Syria to the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court.
Syria-violation of human rights-non-legal submission-2011 (full text, PDF)
Photo by Freedom House
Mar 17, 2011 | Advocacy, Non-legal submissions
Since 1963, under the framework of a State of Emergency, serious and widespread human rights violations have been committed in Syria, including torture and other ill-treatment, enforced disappearances, and arbitrary arrests and detentions.
Suspected political opponents, human rights lawyers and other defenders have been regularly and arbitrarily detained, ill-treated and, in many cases, held without charge or trial for several years. Others have been convicted and sentenced, under the emergency law and other restrictive dispositions of the Syrian Penal Code (in particular Articles 267,273, 285, 286, 287, 288, and 307),to lengthy prison terms after grossly unfair trials before military courts, the Supreme State Security Court (SSSC), or civilian courts.
In spite of the persistent and consistent reports of these human rights violations, Syrian authorities have failed to investigate them promptly and independently, and to bring to justice State officials and laws enforcement officers allegedly responsible for these violations. They have enjoyed effective impunity.
Syria-UPR submission ICJ-non-legal submission-2011 (full text, PDF)
