Syria

The number of men, women and children who have died since pro-reform protestors took to the streets of Syria in February 2011 is over 100,000. 

Since then, what began as a peaceful cry for freedom has descended into a bloody internal armed conflict between pro and anti government forces. 

The impact of the fighting, as ever, is being most brutally felt by civilians. Both pro and anti government forces have committed violent war crimes. 

Conditions have become so unbearable that over two million people have fled the country, while some four million others have been displaced within Syria. 

The international community must accept their shared responsibility towards protecting the human rights of people in Syria. Now, as allegations of chemical weapons attacks are made, it is now more important than ever for the Syrian government to grant full access to the country for the UN mandated Commission of Inquiry. They can help determine who is responsible for the alleged attacks. 

• Read about Syria in our 2011 Annual Report
• Other countries demanding change in the Middle East and North Africa

Military intervention? 

As the debate about international military intervention in Syria continues, many of you have asked if we are for or against it. The fact is, we neither condemn nor condone it. We do not get involved in geopolitical posturing. 

 

What we do is focus on protecting human rights. We remind those thinking of entering into conflict that they are subject to the laws of war and work to ensure all parties respect this. And we continue to demand justice for people of Syria. 

• Read more about this policy and our work on the ground
• Read our six key points on military intervention

Over 4.25 million displaced within Syria

 

Much has been reported about the dire situation faced by refugees who fled across the border from Syria to neighbouring countries. But the vast majority - 4.25 million - of those forced from their homes are living in camps or elsewhere within Syria itself.

In February our researcher Donatella visited a camp for Internally Displaced People, in Atmeh, northern Syria. Some 21,000 people were sheltering there in hellish conditions. Read her research from the camp

 

Stop the bloodshed - protect civilians now Human rights abuses by both opposition and government forces in Syria are spiralling. Over 100,000 people have died since pro-reform protestors took to the streets of Syria in February 2011.   This endlessly rising death toll serves as a constant reminder that what started as a peaceful cry for freedom has descended into an internal armed conflict - with devastating consequences. This simply cannot be allowed to carry on. Help ensure 2013 is not another year of bloodshed, by calling on both opposition and government forces to prioritise the protection of civilians.  Demand the immediate protection of civilians now

Two years on, the war crimes continue

 

Our researchers have just returned from Syria where they documented war crimes being committed by both pro- and anti- government . Two years on, it's more important than ever to demand the protection of civilians. 

• Read our two new briefings on human  rights abuses in Syria
• Take action and demand the immediate protection of civilians
• Watch our researchers reflect on the situation in Syria, two years on

Our research on-the-ground

Across the year, our Crisis Response researcher Donatella has been visiting the country to investigate reports of war crimes and clarify the situation on the ground. During several research trips, Donatella has discovered laws of war being violated across the country and civilians bearing the brunt of the increasingly violent conflict. She has found evidence of: 

• Deliberate killings of civilians, and those believed to support the opposition - in the most part by Syria's armed forces. Read more 
• Brutal use of force against protestors in Aleppo where children were killed and bystanders shot dead as government backed militias fired indiscriminately into the crowds. Read more
• Children killed or maimed and families torn apart as civilians bear the brunt of indiscriminate air attacks in both Aleppo and the Idlib and North Hama regions. Read more
• Villages abandoned as people flee to live in caves or attempt to cross the border to Turkey. Read more 

It is vital that we bring the perpetrators of these crimes to justice and Donatella's evidence-gathering work will prove fundamental to that process. It is also key in bringing the situation across Syria before the eyes of the International community whose response to this crisis remains ineffective. 

 

We couldn't do this without you. Please support our evidence-gathering work today 

 

The most dangerous place in the world to be a reporter Journalists reporting on human rights abuses in Syria are being deliberately targeted by both sides in the conflict. As our latest report documents, at least 36 journalists have been killed and dozens more attacked or detained since the uprising began in 2011, with both professional and 'citizen' journalists facing reprisals for carrying out their work. Read our report - Shooting the messenger: Journalists targeted by all sides in Syria

Opposition abuse dents hope for human rights revolution

The appearance of footage allegedly showing members of armed opposition groups executing 14 men from a pro-government clan offers a powerful reminder of the need for both sides of the conflict in Syria to respect International Humanitarian Law.

Although the vast majority of crimes in this armed conflict continue to be perpetrated by government forces and pro-government militias, members of armed opposition groups have been responsible for summary executions of captives and other unlawful killings. They have abducted civilians, tortured people and used children in the hostilities.

Many of these actions constitute war crimes and the armed opposition do not get a free pass because their opponent is terrorising, punishing and humiliating civilians across Syria. There can be no excuses. If this is to be a true human rights revolution, the opposition must start by committing to those rights and abiding by international law.

• On the blog: our campaigner Kristyan Benedict reflects
• In the news: FSA launches investigation into the killings

Background to the unrest

Under the state of emergency that had been in place since 1963 only the ruling Ba'ath party was allowed to rule Syria. Security forces enjoy sweeping powers of arrest, and government critics are routinely sentenced to lengthy prison terms following grossly unfair trials.

In this climate, a series of small peaceful gatherings, organised mainly on Facebook and Twitter, were held from 2 February 2011. The protests were forcibly dispersed and demonstrators arrested.

On 18 March the protests began to spread after the authorities used excessive force to suppress a demonstration calling for the release of children detained for writing 'the people want the downfall of the regime' on a wall as graffiti. Within a week, security forces had killed at least 55 protesters in the city.

The Arab League and International response

The international response has been slow and inadequate. In October Russia and China blocked what was already a seriously watered-down resolution at the UN Security Council. South Africa, India, Brazil and Lebanon abstained.

In November 2011, the League of Arab States announced a deal with the Syrian authorities to end the violence. But the Syrian government failed to implement its commitments and the League suspended their membership, announcing economic sanctions on the country. 

In December the first formal mission of observers was allowed in to Syria since the crackdown began. Representative of the Arab League entered the country on 26 December, tasked with monitoring Syria's implementation of the peace plan. Despite their presence in the country, human rights abuses reportedly continued. 

In February 2012, China and Russia vetoed a draft UN Security Council resolution expressing 'grave concern' at the situation in Syria and calling for all violence to cease. Russia also continues to supply arms to the Syrian authorities, which may be used to commit crimes against humanity and gross human rights violations. They must suspend arms transfers to Syria immediately and use their influence to urge the Syrian government to:

• Immediately end excessive use of force against residential areas and allow peaceful dissent
• Immediately give humanitarian agencies and human rights organisations full and unhindered access.

Take action: Call on Russia to use its influence to end the bloodshed in Syria

Read more:

• Brutal assault on Homs must end Statement - February 2012
• Arab League should clarify situation in Syria Statement - January 2012
• No more impunity for crimes against humanity in Syria Submission to the UN Human Rights Council December 2011
• Russia and China block UN Security Council Resolution Statement - October 2011

Peace plan

Despite the Syrian government's acceptance on 27 March 2012 of the six-point plan by Kofi Annan (Joint Special Envoy for the United Nations and the Arab League on Syria), we have continued to receive reports of arrests and continuing detention of individuals in conditions amounting to enforced disappearance.

On 14 April the UN Security Council voted in a resolution endorsing the six-point plan and approving the immediate deployment of 30 unarmed observers to Syria. There are now 300 military observers, 297 on the ground plus 71 international civilian staff and 14 local civilian staff, known as UN Supervision Mission in Syria (UNSMIS). Despite this, the killing continues with the number of dead growing daily.

We are concerned that this mission is lacking a clear mandate to monitor and investigate human rights abuses, including crimes against humanity and war crimes. We are calling on the UN Security Council to create an adequately resourced and strong human rights component of the Supervision Mission with the mandate the monitor, investigate and publicly report on all human rights aspects and their implications for the 'six point plan'.

The Syrian government has shown it cannot be trusted to respect its commitments so a credible, vigorous monitoring operation will be essential if all parties are to be kept to their obligations. 

Armed groups

The opposition inside the country now includes armed groups, most loosely organised under the banner of the Free Syrian Army (FSA). Along with a growing number of soldiers who have defected from Syria's armed forces, the FSA has taken up arms against government forces.

As confrontations between government forces and armed opposition groups have increased, the frequency and brutality of government reprisals against towns and villages supportive of the opposition has escalated.

While the overwhelming majority of alleged human rights violations have been committed by Syria's state security forces, there have been some reports of abuses committed by members of armed opposition groups, including kidnappings and killings of people apparently because they or their relatives were outspoken in supporting the government. Members of armed gangs known as 'shabiha' - believed to operate on behalf, or with the acquiescence, of state forces - have also allegedly been targeted.

We are investigating these reports which, if true, are deeply disturbing. We condemn, without reservation, serious abuses by armed groups, including attacks that target civilians, indiscriminate and disproportionate attacks, torture and other ill-treatment.

Key reports

• Deadly reprisals: Deliberate killings and other abuses by Syria's armed forces 14 June 2012
  
• 'I wanted to die': Syria's torture survivors speak out 14 March 2012
  
• Year of Rebellion: State of human rights in the Middle East and North Africa 9 January 2011
• Health crisis: Syrian government targets the wounded and health workers 24 October 2011
• Deadly detention: Deaths in custody amid popular protest in Syria 30 August 2011
• Crackdown in Syria: Terror in Tell Kalakh 6 July 2011
• Investigation urged into Syrian mass grave reports 17 May 2011