OHCHR | IICISyria Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic

Since the unrest began in March 2011 in the Syrian Arab Republic, millions of women, men, girls and boys have been affected and suffered violations at the hands of warring parties. Over 5.6 million have fled the country and 6.6 million are internally displaced, as of April 2018. Already in 2016, the United Nations estimated that 400,000 people had died as a result of the conflict. Thousands of civilians have suffered at the hands of brutal non-State armed groups, including ISIL. Government forces and affiliated militias have arbitrarily or unlawfully detaining tens of thousands of individuals in official and makeshift detention centres throughout the country.
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Latest news

Opening Remarks by Mr. Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro, Chair of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic at press conference in Geneva 9 March 2021 for the launch of the latest report by CoI Syria
English
9 March 2022

Syria’s abyss: UN Syria Commission warns of escalating violence, plummeting economy and a humanitarian disaster
العربية | English | French
9 March 2022

UN panel welcomes landmark guilty verdict in Germany’s prosecution of former Syrian intelligence officer for crimes against humanity
العربية | English
13 January 2022

Human Rights Council President appoints Lynn Welchman of the United Kingdom to serve on Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic
العربية | English
1 December 2021

”War against the Syrian people continues unabated” - UN Syria Commission of Inquiry to Third Committee of General Assembly
العربية | English | Français
25 October 2021

Statement by Paulo Pinheiro, Chair of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic, to the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, Third Committee
English
25 October 2021

Statement by Commissioner Karen Koning AbuZayd of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic, to the 48th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council
English
23 September 2021

Report of the Commission of Inquiry on Syrian Arab Republic to the forty-eighth regular session of the Human Rights Council
Report page
14 September 2021

Statement by Paulo Pinheiro, Chair of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic, to the 47th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council
English
6 July 2021

Arbitrary Imprisonment and Detention - Report of the Commission of Inquiry of the Syrian Arab Republic
Report page
1 March 2021

2021 Report of the Commission of Inquiry on Syrian Arab Republic
Report page
18 February 2021

COI Syria: No clean hands – behind the frontlines and the headlines, armed actors continue to subject civilians to horrific and increasingly targeted abuse
15 September 2020
العربية | English

Rampant human rights violations and war crimes as war-torn Idlib faces the pandemic UN Syria Commission of Inquiry report
7 July 2020
العربية | English

UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria: As global pandemic reaches Syria, fighting must stop and urgent steps taken to prevent an even greater tragedy
28 March 2020
العربية | English

UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria: Unprecedented levels of displacement and dire conditions for civilians in the Syrian Arab Republic
2 March 2020
العربية | English

Parties to the conflict must act immediately and collectively to bring meaningful respite to civilians in northwest Syria
4 February 2020
العربية | English

All news...

Mandate

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.The mandate of the Commission is to investigate all alleged violations of international human rights law since March 2011 in the Syrian Arab Republic. The Human Rights Council also tasked the Commission with establishing 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. The Human Rights Council has repeatedly extended the Commission's mandate since then, most recently until 31 March 2021.
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Call for Submissions

العربية | English

The Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic invites individuals, groups, organizations, and Member States to submit information and documentation related to its mandate via the email or postal addresses below. In particular, the Commission would welcome:

Information concerning the facts and circumstances regarding specific alleged violations and abuses;

Information concerning the identity of individuals, military units, and armed group entities responsible for such violations; and

Views concerning targeted recommendations to duty bearers and conflicting parties active in the Syrian Arab Republic to increase human rights protections and promote accountability.

Procedure for submissions for regular mandated reports:

The Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic reports to the Human Rights Council three times per year, with written reports prepared for the September and March sessions, and an Oral Update during the June Session. The September mandated report covers the period from January to June, while the March mandated report covers the period from July to December.

Submissions for the September mandated report (covering events during the period January-June) should be sent no later than 1 June.

Submissions for the March mandated report (covering events during the period July-December ) should be sent no later than 1 December.

All submissions must be provided in writing to the email or postal address below, and must include

The contact details for the author(s) of the submission;

Whether the submission, or any part of it, should be treated confidentially.

The Commission of Inquiry encourages contributors to submit information in Arabic, English, and/or French. Submissions in other official United Nations languages are welcome, but may take longer to process.

Note concerning submissions for special mandate reports:

From time to time, the Commission is mandated by the Human Rights Council to conduct specific inquiries and produce urgent updates or full reports. In such cases, Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic invites individuals, groups, organizations, and Member States to submit information and documentation related to such special mandates as soon as practical after the adoption of such mandates.

Public hearings

Members

Current Commissioners:

Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro (Brazil), Chair
Hanny Megally (Egypt)
Lynn Welchman (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland)

Former Commissioners:

Karen Koning AbuZayd (United States)
Carla del Ponte (Switzerland)
Vitit Muntarbhorn (Thailand)
Yakin Erturk (Turkey)

Documentation

This page lists all reports, updates, statements and resolutions issued by or related to the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic.

Press Releases

Syria’s abyss: UN Syria Commission warns of escalating violence, plummeting economy and a humanitarian disaster
9 March 2022
العربية | English | French

UN panel welcomes landmark guilty verdict in Germany’s prosecution of former Syrian intelligence officer for crimes against humanity
13 January 2022
English

”War against the Syrian people continues unabated” - UN Syria Commission of Inquiry to Third Committee of General Assembly
25 October 2021
العربية | English | Français

”Military solutions” in Syria have led to a decade of death, denial, and destruction - UN Syria Commission of Inquiry report
18 February 2021
العربية | English

COI Syria: No clean hands – behind the frontlines and the headlines, armed actors continue to subject civilians to horrific and increasingly targeted abuse
15 September 2020
العربية | English

Rampant human rights violations and war crimes as war-torn Idlib faces the pandemic UN Syria Commission of Inquiry report
7 July 2020
العربية | English

UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria: As global pandemic reaches Syria, fighting must stop and urgent steps taken to prevent an even greater tragedy
28 March 2020
العربية | English

UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria: Unprecedented levels of displacement and dire conditions for civilians in the Syrian Arab Republic
2 March 2020
العربية | English

Parties to the conflict must act immediately and collectively to bring meaningful respite to civilians in northwest Syria
4 February 2020
العربية | English

“They have erased the dreams of my children”: UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria Publishes Report on Children’s Rights over the course of the Syrian War
16 January 2020
العربية | English

All press releases...

Statements

Opening Remarks by Mr. Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro, Chair of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic at press conference in Geneva 9 March 2021 for the launch of the latest report by CoI Syria
English
9 March 2022

Statement by Paulo Pinheiro, Chair of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic, to the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, Third Committee
English
25 October 2021

Statement by Commissioner Karen Koning AbuZayd of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic, to the 48th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council
English
23 September 2021

Statement by Paulo Pinheiro, Chair of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic, to the 47th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council
English
6 July 2021

Statements by the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic to the 46th Human Rights Council - Paulo Pinheiro, Chair and Commissioner Karen AbuZayd
English
11 March 2021

High-Level Panel Discussion on the Situation of Human Rights in the Syrian Arab Republic, 75th Session of the United Nations General Assembly - Statement by Mr. Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro, Chair of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic
English
2 March 2021

Statement by Mr. Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro, Chair of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic, at the 45th Human Rights Council session
English
22 September 2020

Press conference opening remarks by Mr. Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro, Chair of the Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic
English
15 September 2020

Statement by Mr. Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro, Chair of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic, at the 44th Human Rights Council session
العربية | English
14 July 2020

Press conference opening remarks by Mr. Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro, Chair of the Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic, on the special inquiry in Idlib region
العربية | English
7 July 2020

Statement by Mr. Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro, Chair of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic, at 43rd Human Rights Council session
English
9 March 2020

All statements…

Feature Stories

Syria: Truth and justice needed more than ever after 10 years of conflict – Bachelet
As Syria marks a decade of violence and conflict, we owe it to the victims to step up the pursuit of truth, justice and reparations, Bachelet says, calling for a particular focus on the plight of the missing and their families.
11 March 2021

A Syrian man stands carrying a child in a camp for displaced people in Kafr Lusin, Idlib province, April 2018. © Ibrahim Yasouf/AFP

Displaced and afraid in Idlib, Syria
Warring parties in Idlib have given little consideration for civilian lives and have caused massive displacements. UN experts propose recommendations to address the situation of the displaced.
2 October 2018

Syrian women react as they flee their homes in the village of Tal Aswad, 5km north of the town of Afrin. © Credit Nazeer al-Khatib/AFP

Report: No one unaffected by sexual and gender-based violence in Syrian conflict
“It is utterly repugnant that brutal acts of sexual and gender-based violence have been perpetrated throughout Syria for over six and a half years,” said Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro, Chair of the Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic. He made his remarks during an event launching a report that looked into the pervasiveness of the issue in the Syrian conflict.
28 March 2018

A group of children gather near a UN car in rebel-held Douma, Syria, 15 March 2018. ©EPA-EFE/MOHAMMED BADRA

Syria: the most dangerous place for children?
Civil society actors give the Human Rights Council information on violations of children’s rights in Syria and recommendations on how to protect rights of these children.
16 March 2018

A child injured from fighting in rebel-held Barzeh, Syria, is treated at a Barzeh field hospital, 18 Feb 2017 ©EPA/STR

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 June 2017