UN Security Council should pass Syrian dossier to International Criminal Court

The information on human rights violations and crimes committed during the conflict in Syria should be passed by the UN Security Council to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navanethem Pillay stated on Monday. “The handing in (of the Syrian dossier to the ICC) will make it clear to all the actors that they will be held accountable for non-compliance with the international law of human rights and humanitarian law,” she said, speaking via video link at the UN Security Council. Pillay expressed the hope that the transfer of the Syrian dossier to The Hague court “will help prevent future violations.” The investigation of possible violations of human rights in Syria is conducted by a special commission, established by the UN Human Rights Council (HRC). Reports prepared by it say that the Syrian army and pro-government militia fighters, as well as the armed opposition are involved in serious human rights violations and crimes against humanity. The UN experts, in particular, have data about mass executions, abductions, rape, recruitment of child soldiers and other violations. The commission’s findings are based on data obtained from third parties - since its establishment in August it has not been given permission from Damascus to visit the country. Much attention was given to the problem of no access to the areas of Syria where bloodshed continues at Monday’s debate in the UN Security Council that focused on the protection of civilians in armed conflict. In addition to the developments in Syria, the meeting participants discussed the situation in Mali, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Central African Republic. Several speakers touched upon the recent events in Egypt, which caused strong dissatisfaction among the country’s representatives. Egypt’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Moataz Ahmadein Khalil stated that the clashes in Egypt do not fall under the definition of an armed conflict.