The United Nations Human Rights Chief, Navi Pillay, addressing the UN Security council today, outlined that Syrian government crimes outweighed crimes committed by opposition armed forces.
Drawing upon findings from the Syrian Commission of Inquiry, Pillay highlighted that although both parties had been found accountable for crimes, the two could not to be compared, reports Reuters.
At a press conference after the Security Council briefing, Pillay said,
Drawing upon findings from the Syrian Commission of Inquiry, Pillay highlighted that although both parties had been found accountable for crimes, the two could not to be compared, reports Reuters.
At a press conference after the Security Council briefing, Pillay said,
“Clearly the actions of the forces of the government far outweigh the violations [by opposition forces]. It’s the government that is mostly responsible for the violations and all these perpetrators should be identified and can if there’s a referral to the International Criminal Court. There has to be justice and accountability and the situation in Syria should not be allowed to slip through the cracks.”The Syrian UN Ambassador, Bashar Ja’afri, in a belligerent dismissal of the Human Rights Chief’s assertions, said,
“Pillay has become lunatic in her action and is behaving irresponsibly. She’s manipulating, bluffing the truth and she is biased. She is using her position in favour of making further pressure on the Syrian government. She doesn’t have any credible information with regard to what’s going on in Syria.”The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights is due to release a report documenting torture by all parties in the Syrian conflict later this week.