Submitted by crinadmin on
Further to the report by the UN fact-finding commission on Syria, established by the Human Rights Council to investigate alleged human rights abuses since March 2011, a Special Session is currently taking place in Geneva (2 December). Report reveals crimes against humanity The report by the three-member commission of inquiry concluded that Syrian security and military forces have committed crimes against humanity against civilians, including acts of killings, torture, rape and imprisonment. The report – based on interviews with more than 200 victims and witnesses of human rights violations – documents widespread, systematic and gross violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms. Statement by UN High Commissioner In her address, the UN High Commissioner, Navi Pillay, urged immediate action by the international community to protect the people of Syria from the Government’s ongoing “ruthless” repression, which has claimed more than 4,000 lives since March, including over 300 children. Statement by Chairperson of the Commission of Inquiry In his statement to the Special Session, Mr Paulo Pinheiro, Chairperson of the independent international commission of inquiry, said: "violations include excessive use of force, arbitrary detention, enforced disappearances, torture, sexual violence, violations of children's rights and of economic and social rights". "Children were not spared" In his two page statement, he referred to specfically to children, saying: "Children were not spared. According to reliable sources, to date, 307 children were killed by State forces. November was the deadliest month so far with 56 children killed. Others were detained and tortured. We heard about two boys who died as a result of torture. The father of 14-year-old Thamir Al Sharee shared with us the post mortem report and the x-rays of the body of his son. Thamir’s wounds were consistent with the severe torture that a witness had described as being inflicted on the boy in a military security detention". Further Information:
pdf: http://www.crin.org/docs/Stmt by Pinheiro CoI Syria 2 Dec 11.pdf