Conflict in Syria: Protect civilians!

I am writing to call on you to use your influence and position in the Syrian government to ensure that civilians and all those no longer participating in hostilities are protected in the ongoing non-international armed conflict currently taking place in Syria.

I am deeply concerned by the increasingly frequent attacks against the civilian population carried out by the Syrian armed forces through indiscriminate air bombardments of heavily populated areas, including with internationally banned cluster bombs, and artillery shelling, as well as the use of air-delivered incendiary weapons. And I am deeply troubled by the torture of detainees and death in custody, including of suspected members of armed groups.

As you are aware, the carrying out of indiscriminate attacks is prohibited in non-international armed conflicts by international humanitarian law. “Intentionally directing attacks against the civilian population as such or against individual civilians not taking direct part in hostilities” constitutes a war crime under the 1998 Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.

I strongly urge you to demand that the Syrian authorities immediately put a stop to the use of cluster weapons and anti-personnel land mines in all circumstances; end the use of mortars, artillery, and free-fall unguided bombs in attacks on residential areas; treat all detainees humanely; and ensure the protection of civilians during the conflict at all times, in conformity with Syria’s obligations under international law.

The Syrian authorities, in addition, must without delay carry out credible, independent, thorough and prompt investigations into any violations of international humanitarian law as well as human rights standards and hold those found responsible in fair trials to account, without recourse to the death penalty.

I am writing to urge you to use your influence as the President of the newly founded National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces in order to ensure that armed opposition groups under your control comply fully with their obligations under international humanitarian law and commit to respecting international human rights standards.

I am deeply concerned about increasing reports of abuses being carried out against captured or injured members of government security forces and militias, journalists and other civilians. I am also concerned at reports that opposition forces have used imprecise or inherently indiscriminate (eg home-made weapons such as mortars and home-made rockets in heavily populated residential areas, thereby endangering civilians. I therefore call on you to ensure that civilians are protected at all times and that all persons detained by armed opposition groups, including captured members of government security forces, militias, and others suspected of involvement in the conflict are protected and treated humanely. The armed groups associated with the coalition must uphold international humanitarian law and must be made aware that, if they fail to do so, they will be held to account in the future.

I therefore urge you to ensure that a clearly defined hierarchy and chain of command is established within the new military command in order to enforce compliance with international humanitarian law and prevent and suppress war crimes and other violations of international humanitarian law.