Justice for Syria

Eight years of conflict

Eight years of crisis in Syria, which began after anti-government protests erupted in March 2011, have been marred by horror and bloodshed. Parties to the conflict continue to commit human rights abuses, including war crimes and crimes against humanity. To date, victims have seen no justice. Syrian government forces, with the support of Russia, have attacked and bombed civilians, killing and injuring thousands; maintained lengthy sieges on civilian areas; subjected tens of thousands to enforced disappearances and extrajudicial executions; and systematically tortured and otherwise ill-treated detainees causing countless deaths in custody. Armed groups have indiscriminately shelled and besieged predominately civilian areas, and committed abductions, torture and summary killings.

Today, war crimes, crimes against humanity and other serious human rights abuses continue in Syria. These crimes should not go unpunished. Victims and their families have the right to truth, reparation, and justice.

I was beaten with cables and told to kneel before a picture of Bashar al-Assad.

Former detainee Abu al-Najem

Is Justice Possible? Yes.

There are three pathways to justice for Syria:

  • International Mechanism
    Established by the UN General Assembly in December 2016 to assist in the investigation of the most serious crimes under international law committed in Syria since March 2011 with a view of prosecuting perpetrators in the future.

  • Universal Jurisdiction
    Allows courts of states to try and prosecute persons for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed outside their territories.

  • International Criminal Court – BLOCKED
    Prosecutes perpetrators of war crimes and crimes against humanity if the situation in Syria is referred by UN Security Council. But this has been vetoed by Russia and China since 2014.

© AMEER ALHALBI/AFP/Getty Images

International Mechanism

A glimmer of hope for accountability emerged when the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution establishing an investigative mechanism in Syria.

It aims to bring to justice all those suspected of committing human rights violations or crimes under international law. This is an opportunity to send a clear message to all perpetrators in Syria that they will be held accountable. It is time to ensure that the cycle of war crimes, crimes against humanity and impunity ends now. Justice and accountability are essential to any future sustainable peace in Syria. The path to justice can be long, but we must act now to ensure that the UN takes all the steps necessary towards an effective international mechanism for Syria.

The Mechanism is globally raising important hopes and expectations not least on the part of Syrian victims and the civilian population at large. I am inspired by their dignity and fortitude and draw strength from their courage as I begin the difficult work ahead.

Catherine Marchi-Uhel, Head of the IIIM

Follow news from the IIIM’s official website here.

Steps to an Effective UN Mechanism

COMPLETED

1. Pass the resolution
Resolution 71/248 passed by the UN General Assembly in December 2016 establishing the UN Mechanism.2. Secure adequate funding
for the mechanism by UN member states.

ONGOING

3. Hire competent, experienced, and independent staffHire Head, Deputy Head, and staff, experienced in International Criminal investigations, prosecutions and evidence analysis.
4. Draft comprehensive and practical internal regulations and procedures
on issues such as organizing, collecting, safekeeping of information; cooperation and sharing of information; confidentiality, privacy and protection of sources.

PENDING

5. Proactively collect dataMake requests to government agencies and identify sources of evidence and contacts.
6. Start independent, impartial, and comprehensive investigations
Interview witnesses and conduct on-site investigations.
7. Effectively organize and analyze high volumes of collected data in an accessible way
Set up secure and organized (electronic) databases and analyze evidence to establish (high-level) perpetrators and patterns of conduct.
8. Operate and report transparently
Prepare reports to the UN General Assembly and ensure meaningful participation and information to victims, NGOs and all stakeholders.
9. Efficiently prepare comprehensive case files to prosecute individual perpetrators
Prepare case files on crimes under international law and suspected individual perpetrators with a view to national or international prosecutions (including by the mechanism itself)
10. Operationalise data: Share and make readily accessible evidence and case files (subject to safeguards and procedures)

Human Toll of the Conflict

Updated March 2018

13M
in need of humanitarian assistance including food, water, shelter and healthcare. 6 million of them are children.
400,000
People have been killed, according to the UN
5.6M
People are now refugees abroad
82,000
disappeared in Syria

Governments can also bring justice to Syria

Many countries around the world can prosecute persons for crimes committed in Syria, even if the suspects or the victims are of a foreign nationality. These crimes include war crimes, crimes against humanity, torture, genocide, acts of terrorism and enforced disappearances.

This mechanism of prosecution is called Universal Jurisdiction and several European countries have exercised it to investigate war crimes committed in Syria or Iraq. But we need more countries to start investigations and prosecutions to ensure that victims and their families receive the justice and reparation they deserve.

Syrian communities and organizations in Europe and elsewhere play an important role in providing testimonies and identifying suspects, thus increasing the opportunity for states to investigate and prosecute war crimes in their national courts.

Countries that can exercise this form of jurisdiction include: Argentina, France, UK, USA, Australia, Canada, Germany, Netherlands, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, South Korea, Mexico, Switzerland, Sweden, Senegal and Uruguay.

War Crimes Committed in Syria

Extrajudicial executions and summary killings
Torture and Cruel Treatment
Deliberate attacks on civilians, homes, medical facilities and other civilian objects
Indiscriminate and disproportionate attacks
Using prohibited weapons
Enforced disappearances, abductions and hostage-taking
Rape and sexual slavery
Using starvation of civilians as a method of warfare

COUNTRIES THAT CAN EXERCISE UNIVERSAL JURISDICTION