Syria Report of High Commissioner Documents Crimes Against Humanity

The Report of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on Syria was issued yesterday. In paragraph 72, it states: ‘The Mission found a pattern of human rights violations that  constitutes widespread or systematic attacks against the civilian population, which may amount to crimes against humanity as provided for in article 7  of  the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.’ The Report was made at the request of the Human Rights Council. It recommends that the Council:

‘Urge the Security Council to remain seized of, and address in the strongest  terms the killing of peaceful protestors and other civilians in Syria through  the use of excessive force and other grave human right violations; to call  for an immediate cessation of attacks against the civilian population; and to consider referring the situation in Syria to the International Criminal Court.’

The Report notes that Syria signed the Rome Statute, although it has not ratified the instrument.