In a few days, Syria will mark one year since the fall of the Assad regime.
While the interim authorities have taken encouraging steps towards addressing past violations, these steps are only the beginning of what needs to be done.
The interim authorities have established national commissions for transitional justice and missing persons, as well as investigation bodies into violence in the coastal areas and in Suweida, and announced a draft law on transitional justice. Trials have started against alleged perpetrators of the coastal violence.
Yet, we continue to see distressing accounts of summary executions, arbitrary killings and abductions, mainly targeting members of certain communities and individuals accused of affiliation with the former government. Hundreds were killed since the fall of the former regime, including from gun, knife and stone attacks, and as a result of shelling, and hand grenades. These killings were carried out by security forces of the interim authorities, groups affiliated with them, elements associated with the former government, local armed groups and unidentified armed individuals. We have also documented deaths resulting from explosive remnants of war.
Other reported violations and abuses include sexual violence, arbitrary detentions, looting, destruction of homes, forced evictions and confiscation of houses, land and property, in addition to restrictions on freedoms of expression and of peaceful assembly.
In many of these instances, the violence has mainly affected certain communities, including Alawites, Druze, Christians and Bedouins. It has been fed by rising hate speech, both online and on the streets.
The past year has also been marked by repeated Israeli military operations, including incursions, and occupation of additional territory. We have received reports of civilian casualties, including in a recent Israeli military operation near Damascus, as well as arrests and home searches.
The integration of former armed groups into the new security forces has so far happened in a hasty manner, without proper human rights-based vetting. This vetting and proper security sector reform are crucial to ensuring that perpetrators of serious violations of international law are not integrated into the security forces and prevent further violations.
All violations - past and present - must be independently, thoroughly and transparently investigated, and those responsible held to account.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk calls on the authorities to take action to address the root causes of these violations. Accountability, justice, peace and security of all Syrians are absolute prerequisites for a successful transition. Victims' rights to effective remedies and reparation must be fulfilled.
The UN Human Rights Office, through our programme in Damascus, is supporting Syrian efforts to ensure an inclusive transitional justice and strengthen rule of law.
