Human Rights Watch Calls for Accountability for Crimes Committed in Syria

ARK New.. Human Rights Watch (HRW) has called for justice and accountability for crimes committed by Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria, as well as violations perpetrated by other parties over the past 14 years.

During an interactive dialogue with the United Nations Human Rights Council's Commission of Inquiry on Syria, the rights organization emphasized that the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad’s government in December 2024 has opened a historic opportunity for Syria to move away from decades of oppression and build a future based on human rights and justice.

HRW stressed that achieving this future is impossible without comprehensive and effective accountability for serious violations committed by Assad’s government, as well as international crimes involving all sides of the conflict.

The organization urged the Syrian administration to collect and safeguard evidence urgently, including government documents, archives, and mass grave sites. It also called for full cooperation with UN mechanisms such as the Commission of Inquiry (COI) and the International, Impartial, and Independent Mechanism (IIIM) to ensure fair and effective accountability.

HRW did not limit its calls for justice to the crimes committed by the Assad regime but also emphasized the need to hold accountable armed groups responsible for violence, indiscriminate killings, looting, and summary executions, particularly in coastal areas and the provinces of Homs and Hama.

The organization pointed to evidence of indiscriminate shootings targeting villages and homes, as well as a rise in sectarian rhetoric and violations of civilian dignity.

Additionally, HRW highlighted that sanctions imposed on Syria are hindering the restoration of essential services, including healthcare, water, electricity, and education. It called for the lifting of sanctions that directly impact civilians to alleviate humanitarian suffering.

The organization further emphasized the need to expand civic space in Syria to support reconstruction efforts, urging the Syrian administration to remove restrictions on humanitarian organizations and facilitate relief operations across the country.

357