The United Nations Office at Geneva
Multimedia Newsroom
Tens of thousands of civilians arbitrarily detained in Syria remain “forcibly disappeared” after a decade of conflict, while thousands more have been subject to torture, sexual violence or death in detention, according to the UN Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic.
At the launch of their latest report today at the United Nations in Geneva, Hanny Megally, Member of the Independent Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic said that “the first things that emerge from the review is that arbitrary detention was used to punish critics, to punish opponents and it was used by everyone but primarily by the Syrian State and it was used on a massive scale. It was also used to intimidate and to terrorize the population at large.”
Rebel groups including the Free Syrian Army (FSA), Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and Islamic State (ISIL) have also unlawfully detained, tortured and executed civilians in custody, the Commission said.
“Torture was systematic by the Government of Syria and also by the Islamic State and by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham”, said Hanny Megally. “It was also used quite often by the other groups. But, but emerges as a systematized approach to torture treatment by those three.”
The fate of tens of thousands of civilians who were forcibly disappeared by Syrian Government forces, many nearly a decade ago, remains unknown. Many are presumed to have died or been executed, while some are believed to be held in inhuman conditions of detention.
Chief investigator Paulo Pinheiro welcomed a court decision in Koblenz, Germany, last week for sentencing a former member of Assad’s security services to 4-1/2 years in prison for abetting the torture of civilians.
This was the first verdict for crimes against humanity in the 10-year-old Syrian civil war. The judgement is the result of information that the Commission has provided, he said, and which was used as evidence in the Koblenz proceedings.
“I think this is a very important development, the, the decision of Koblenz in Germany. We are very aware that some Member States are acknowledging the universal responsibility for some crimes and for some criminals in Syria”, Pinheiro said.
The report says that mistreatment of detainees held arbitrarily in notorious detention facilities remains rife across the country. It concludes that this has been happening with the knowledge and acquiescence of the governments who have supported the different parties to the conflict, and calls on them to bring an end to the violations.
“These states have an obligation to discourage this, to pressure the parties that are supporting from continuing to torture, to arbitrarily in prison, to kill people in detention, to disappear them, to use sexual and gender-based violence against those in detention etcetera. You know, that’s, you know, they’re supporting, they’re funding, they’re providing arms, and they can’t now say ‘we didn’t know they were doing this”, said Hanny Megally.
The fate of tens of thousands of civilians who were forcibly disappeared by Syrian Government forces, many nearly a decade ago, remains unknown. Many are presumed to have died or been executed, while some are believed to be held in inhuman conditions of detention.
“It’s too late for many, but now we’re pressing hard for people to be released and particularly in the climate of a pandemic as we’ve seen around the world, you know, overcrowded prison conditions that are poor and that lack, that lack hygiene etc. are breeding grounds for this pandemic to spread”, Megally said.
The report finds that the Government of Syria arbitrarily arrested and detained individuals and committed war crimes and crimes against humanity in the context of detention.
“For the Government in particular however these are their own citizens and the failure to take the aforementioned minimal actions are unambiguous grave Human Rights violations and we urge all parties to the conflicts to take these actions regardless of the actions of others”, said Karen Abuzayd, Member of the Independent Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic.
The 30-plus page report based on over 2,500 interviews was conducted over 10 years and investigated into more than 100 specific detention facilities, documents historical and continuing detention-related violations and abuses by nearly every major party that has controlled territory in Syria since 2011.
The Commission’s report is set to be presented on 11 March during an interactive dialogue at the Human Rights Council at the United Nations in Geneva.
- Exterior wide shot, United Nations flag flying.
- SOUNDBITE (English) — Hanny Megally, Member of the Independent Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic: “The first things that emerge from the review is that arbitrary detention was used to punish critics, to punish opponents and it was used by everyone but primarily by the Syrian, by the Syrian State and it was used on a, on a massive scale. It was also used to intimidate and to terrorize the population at large.”
- Exterior wide shot, Palais des Nations entrance, a sunny day.
- SOUNDBITE (English) — Hanny Megally, Member of the Independent Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic: “Torture was systematic by the Government of Syria and also by the Islamic State and by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham. It was also used quite often by the other groups. But, but emerges as a systematized approach to torture treatment by those three.”
- Exterior wide shot, Palais des Nations flag alley and entrance, a car passing.
- SOUNDBITE (English) — Paulo Pinheiro, Chairperson, Independent Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic: “I think this is a very important development, the, the decision of Koblenz in Germany. We are very aware that some Member States are… are acknowledging the universal responsibility for some crimes and for some criminals in Syria.”
- Exterior wide shot, Palais des Nations flag alley and entrance.
- Exterior wide shot, Broken Chair and Palais des Nations entrance.
- SOUNDBITE (English) — Hanny Megally, Member of the Independent Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic: “These states have an obligation to, to discourage this, to pressure the parties that are supporting from continuing to torture, to arbitrarily in prison, to kill people in detention, to disappear them, to use sexual and gender-based violence against those in detention etc. You know, that’s, you know, they’re supporting, they’re funding, they’re providing arms, and they can’t now say ‘we didn’t know they were doing this’.”
- Exterior wide shot, Broken Chair, Place des Nations.
- SOUNDBITE (English) — Hanny Megally, Member of the Independent Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic: “It’s too late for many, but now we’re pressing hard for people to be released and particularly in the climate of a pandemic as we’ve seen around the world, you know, overcrowded prison conditions that are poor and that lack, that lack hygiene etc, are breeding grounds for this pandemic to spread.”
- Exterior wide shot, Canon of peace sculpture in foreground and place des Nations to rear.
- SOUNDBITE (English) — Karen Abuzayd, Member of the Independent Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic: “For the Government in particular these are their own citizens and the failure to take the aforementioned minimal actions are unambiguous grave Human Rights violations and we urge all parties to the conflicts to take these actions regardless of the actions of others.”
- Exterior wide shot, Place des Nations, in-line skate passing.
- Exterior wide shot, Palais des Nations entrance, scooter passing.
Similar Stories
1
1
1
Edited News | WFP , OCHA
UN urges opening of all Gaza crossings to deliver three-month food supply
The UN World Food Programme (WFP) has warned food aid cannot reach everyone in Gaza unless all border crossings are opened, particularly in the north where famine was declared in August. The agency says it already has enough supplies in place to feed the entire population of the Strip for three months – if full access is granted by Israel.
1
1
1
Edited News | UNDP , UNICEF , OCHA , ICRC
Around $70 billion will be needed to reconstruct Gaza and make it safe after two years of war, UN development experts said on Tuesday, while aid agencies reported that far too little aid continues to reach desperate Palestinians.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR
The UN human rights office, OHCHR, on Friday welcomed the Nobel Peace Prize committee’s decision to name Maria Machado as this year’s laureate, in recognition of her work promoting the Venezuelan people’s democratic hopes.
1
1
1
Edited News | UNRWA , UNICEF , WHO
As Gazans jammed the main route leading north on Friday after a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas was announced, UN aid teams repeated their call to open all crossings into the devastated enclave to prevent famine spreading.
1
1
1
Edited News | OCHA , UNICEF , WHO
Two years of Gaza-Israel war bring ‘indescribable’ pain: UN humanitarians
Two years since the Hamas-led terror attacks on Israel, UN humanitarians on Tuesday reiterated calls for the release of all hostages in Gaza, an immediate ceasefire and an aid surge to alleviate Palestinians’ suffering, as talks on a US-driven peace plan continued in Egypt.
1
1
1
Edited News
Syria prison survivor seeks justice for the missing with UN backing.
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk on Friday warned that three and a half years after Russia’s full-scale invasion, the war in Ukraine has entered an even more dangerous and deadly stage for Ukrainian civilians, under relentless bombardment of their schools, hospitals, and shelters.
1
1
1
Edited News | UNICEF , WHO , ICRC
Quadcopter victims, terror and death: 30 minutes in a Gaza hospital
UN aid teams on Friday highlighted the disturbing situation in Gaza’s makeshift hospitals, where premature babies cry for scant oxygen and medics attempt to save child survivors targeted by airstrikes in their tents and quadcopter victims reportedly shot while fetching bread.
2
1
2
Edited News | OHCHR
UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk on Thursday delivered his oral update to the UN Human Rights Council’s 60th session on the human rights situation in Haiti.
The High Commissioner welcomed Wednesday’s decision of the UN Security Council to strengthen the Multinational Security Support mission by transitioning to the Gang Suppression Force for Haiti, stating it is a strong signal of international support for the Haitian people.
1
1
1
Edited News | OCHA , UNICEF
Gaza: As world waits for US peace plan news, UN aid teams stress need for ceasefire
UN agencies reiterated calls for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza on Tuesday to help alleviate Palestinian suffering, as a new US 20-point plan raised hopes of a halt to the fighting.
1
1
1
Edited News | WHO
The ongoing Israeli military offensive in Gaza City continues to overwhelm the war-torn enclave’s medical professionals, with four more hospitals forced to shut down this month alone, the UN World Health Organization said on Friday.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
A UN Human Rights report released today details the dire situation of thousands of civilians detained since Russia’s full-scale armed attack on Ukraine in 2022.