SYRIA: UN inquiries denounce high impact of war on civilians
The UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic has presented its eighth report documenting the suffering caused to civilians. It accuses the Governmental forces of crimes against humanity (massacres, widespread attacks on civilians, systematic murder, torture, rape and enforced disappearance) and war crimes (murder, hostage-taking, torture, rape and sexual violence, child recruitment, targeting civilians, disregard of the special protection of hospitals and humanitarian personnel, disproportionate aerial bombardment, and the use of chlorine gas, which is illegal). Non-State armed groups are similarly accused of war crimes (murder, execution without due process, torture, hostage-taking, enforced disappearance, rape and sexual violence, child recruitment, targeting journalists and medical personnel, and shelling civilian neighbourhoods). In a separate report, the UN Human Rights Office states that more than 191,000 people have died in Syria between March 2011 and April 2014. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay expressed regret over the lack of attention given to the conflict despite the enormity of the suffering of the population. Blaming international paralysis, Pillay has requested that the Security Council refer the case to the ICC, and that governments stop providing arms and other military supplies. (OHCHR, 13/08/14 (A/HRC/27/60); OHCHR, 22/08/14)