OHCHR calls for more action to end the violence and achieve justice.
“Although the interim authorities have taken encouraging steps to address past violations, these steps are just the beginning of what needs to be done“, spokesperson Thameen Al-Kheethan said journalists in Geneva.
Summary executions and arbitrary assassinations
Since last December, the Syrian interim authorities have notably created national commissions for transitional justice and missing persons.
A transitional justice bill was announced and trials began regarding deadly violence in coastal areas in March.
“Yet we continue to see disturbing accounts of summary executions, arbitrary killings and kidnappings, mainly targeting members of certain communities and individuals accused of affiliation with the former government,” he said.
Minorities affected
Hundreds of people have been killed over the past year by security forces and affiliated groups, elements associated with the former government, local armed groups, and unidentified armed individuals.
Other reported violations and abuses include sexual violence, arbitrary detentions, destruction of homes, forced evictions and restrictions on freedoms of expression and peaceful assembly.
Alawite, Druze, Christian and Bedouin communities have been mainly affected by the violence, fueled by the rise of hate speech online and offline.
Incursions by Israeli forces
“The past year has also been marked by repeated Israeli military operationsincluding incursions and occupation of additional territories,” Mr. Al-Kheethan added.
OHCHR received reports of civilian casualties, as well as arrests and house searches.
The spokesperson noted that the integration of former armed groups into Syria’s new security forces has so far occurred hastily and without proper human rights scrutiny.
This is crucial to ensure that perpetrators of serious violations do not join their ranks and to prevent further violations.
A woman holds the new Syrian flag in front of the UN headquarters in New York.
Accountability is essential to Syria’s transition
“All violations – past and present – must be independently, thoroughly and transparently investigated, and those responsible held accountable,” he said.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, called on the authorities to take measures to address the root causes of these violations.
He stressed that accountability, justice, peace and security for all Syrians are absolute prerequisites for a successful transition.
Publicado anteriormente en Almouwatin.
