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Commissions of Inquiry, Commissions on Human Rights, Fact-Finding Missions and Investigations

Past CoIs, FFMs and Investigations

Media

Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic

Map of Syrian Arab Republic © OCHA The Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic was established on 22 August 2011 by the Human Rights Council through resolution S-17 /1 adopted at its 17th special session with a mandate to investigate all alleged violations of international human rights law since March 2011 in the Syrian Arab Republic.

The Commission was also tasked to establish the facts and circumstances that may amount to such violations and of the crimes perpetrated and, where possible, to identify those responsible with a view of ensuring that perpetrators of violations, including those that may constitute crimes against humanity, are held accountable.

MANDATE

To investigate all alleged violations of international human rights law since March 2011 in the Syrian Arab Republic, and to establish the facts and circumstances that may amount to such violations and of the crimes perpetrated.
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MEMBERS

Current Commissioners:

Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro (Chairperson) (Brazil), Chair
Karen Koning AbuZayd (United States)

Former Commissioners:

Carla del Ponte (Switzerland)
Vitit Muntarbhorn (Thailand)
Yakin Erturk (Turkey)

DOCUMENTATION

Report of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic (Advance Edited Version)
Release date: 6 September 2017
E | A (Annex)
Press Release: E | A
Chemical weapons' attacks documented by the Commission (Infographic)

Human rights abuses and international humanitarian law violations in the Syrian Arab Republic, 21 July 2016- 28 February 2017*. Conference room paper of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic - A/HRC/34/CRP.3
E only
Release date: 13 March 2017

Report of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic "Special inquiry into the events in Aleppo" - A/HRC/34/64
A C E F R S
UNOSAT satellite imagery - 1
UNOSAT satellite imagery - 2
Supplementary maps to A/HRC/34/64 - 1
Supplementary maps to A/HRC/34/64 - 2
Supplementary maps to A/HRC/34/64 - 3
Supplementary maps to A/HRC/34/64 - 4
Supplementary maps to A/HRC/34/64 - 5
Full press conference
Release date: 1 March 2017

Human Rights Council resolution S-25/1 adopted on 21 October 2016
The deteriorating situation of human rights in the Syrian Arab Republic, and the recent situation in Aleppo
A C E F R S

Report of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic: “They came to destroy”: ISIS Crimes Against the Yazidis
Release date: 16 June 2016
E (Advance version) | A
Press Release: UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria: ISIS is committing genocide against the Yazidis
E | A | Kurdish
Full press conference
Video: E | A | Kurdish

All documents…

PRESS RELEASES

UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria: Despite tenuous progress on de-escalation in some locations in Syria, civilians continue to suffer from wide-ranging human rights violations and abuse - 6 September 2017
E | A

Statement of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Syria regarding the announcement of the resignation of Ms. Carla Del Ponte - 6 August 2017
A | E

Commission of Inquiry on Syria calls for justice on the occasion of the third anniversary of ISIL’s attack on the Yazidis - 3 August 2017
E | A | Kurdish

Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic - UN Syria Commission Condemns Khan Shikhoun Attack - 4 April 2017
A | E

Warring parties continued to target civilians for abuses over last seven months – UN Commission - 14 March 2017
E

Aleppo aerial campaign deliberately targeted hospitals and humanitarian convoy amounting to war crimes, while armed groups’ indiscriminate shelling terrorised civilians – UN Commission - 1 March 2017
A | E

All press releases...

STATEMENTS

Statement at Human Rights Council, 36th session
E
18 September 2017

Statement at Human Rights Council, 35th session
E
14 June 2017

Syria worst man-made disaster since World War II - Zeid
E
14 March 2017

Statement at Human Rights Council, 34th session
E
14 March 2017

Opening Remarks made at Press Conference
E
1 March 2017

Statement by the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic on the situation of civilians affected by the capture of Aleppo
E
14 December 2016

Statement by the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic on the aerial attack against school complex in Haas village, Idlib
E
28 October 2016

Statement by Mr. Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro, Chair of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic at the 25th Special Session of the UN Human Rights Council
E
21 October 2016

Statement by the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic on Convoy to Orum al-Kubra, Western Aleppo
E
20 September 2016

All statements…

FEATURE STORIES

UN human rights investigators decry targeting of civilians in Syria
“The only way to end civilian suffering is to end this war,” the Commission of Inquiry on Syria told the Human Rights Council, as the conflict rages into its seventh year.
16-06-2017

Protecting the rights of detainees in Syria
Protection of detainees and the disappeared in Syria was the focus of a recent panel discussion held during the Human Rights Council in Geneva. The discussion focused on the experiences of former detainees as well as providing some ways forward.
11-04-2017

Attacks on Syrian civilians and aid workers in Aleppo were war crimes
“The scale of what happened in Aleppo is unprecedented,” the UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria said, issuing its new report. The Commission found war crimes were committed by government forces and opposition groups in the brutal battle to control Aleppo.
03-03-2017

Too long a wait for peace and justice - Commission of Inquiry
The Commission of Inquiry on Syria urges parties to commit to a political solution to the conflict, and following a finding that ISIS is committing genocide in Syria, again calls upon the UN Security Council to refer the situation to international criminal justice.
01-07-2016

Out of sight, out of mind: deaths in detention in Syria
Syrian men, women, and children have been transferred to one of the dozens of official or secret Government-run detention facilities in the Syrian Arab Republic. Thousands of them have been killed while in custody.
15-02-2016

All Feature Stories

PHOTOS