Syria: Effort to buttress human rights since Assad’s fall, ‘only the beginning of what needs to be done’

OHCHR is calling for more action to end the violence and achieve justice.

“While the interim authorities have taken encouraging steps towards addressing past violations, these steps are only the beginning of what needs to be done,” spokesperson Thameen Al-Kheethan told journalists in Geneva.

Summary executions and arbitrary killing

Since last December, Syria’s interim authorities have established national commissions for transitional justice and missing persons, among other measures.  

A draft law on transitional justice has been announced, and trials have begun into deadly violence that occurred in coastal areas in March.

“Yet, we continue to see distressing accounts of summary executions, arbitrary killings and abductions, mainly targeting members of certain communities and individuals accused of affiliation with the former government,” he said.

Minorities affected

Hundreds have been killed over the past year by the 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 were mainly affected by the violence, which has been fed by rising hate speech both on and offline.

Incursions by Israeli forces

“The past year has also been marked by repeated Israeli military operations, including incursions, and occupation of additional territory,” Mr. Al-Kheethan added. 

OHCHR has received reports of civilian casualties, as well as arrests and home searches.

The spokesperson noted that the integration of former armed groups into Syria’s new security forces has so far happened hastily and without proper human rights vetting.

This is crucial to ensure that perpetrators of serious violations do not enter their ranks and to prevent further violations.

Accountability essential for Syria’s transition

“All violations – past and present – must be independently, thoroughly and transparently investigated, and those responsible held to account,” he said.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, has called on the authorities to take action to address the root causes of the violations.  

He stressed that accountability, justice, peace and security for all Syrians are absolute prerequisites for a successful transition.

More to come…