Press releases and meeting summaries
COMMISSION PRESS RELEASES
2024
- UN Commission warns Syrian war is intensifying amid continuing patterns of war crimes and fear of large-scale regional conflict
10 September 2024
العربية | English - Ten years after the Yazidi genocide: UN Syria Commission of Inquiry calls for justice, including accountability and effective remedies, for ISIL crimes
2 August 2024
English - UN Commission of Inquiry: “Syria, too, desperately needs a ceasefire”
11 March 2024
العربية | English
2023
- UN Syria Commission welcomes landmark ICJ order to Syria to prevent torture and destruction of evidence
16 November 2023
English - Marked increase in fighting and a rapidly plummeting economy require urgent Syrian and international responses, UN Syria Commission of Inquiry warns
12 September 2023
العربية | English - UN Syria Commission of Inquiry lauds long-awaited international institution to clarify fate and whereabouts of tens of thousands missing and disappeared
29 June 2023
العربية | English - UN Syria Commission of Inquiry: Those responsible for atrocities during 12 years of violence must be brought to justice
17 March 2023
English - Epicentre of Neglect: Protection of Civilians in Syria Remains an Illusion says UN Syria Commission of Inquiry
العربية | English
13 March 2023 - UN Syria Commission: Urgent action required to assist those impacted by earthquakes, including a countrywide ceasefire to enable humanitarian access
العربية | English
07 February 2023
2022
- UN Syria Commission: Don't look away: Syrian civilians face the prospect of a new escalation - 14 September 2022
العربية | English - UN Syria Commission of Inquiry on Syria: Member States must seize moment to establish mechanism for missing persons - 17 June 2022
العربية | English - UN Syria Commission calls on Security Council to ensure live-saving humanitarian aid to Syria: “Unconscionable to consider closing last border crossing when needs are at their highest” - 26 May 2022
العربية | English - Syria’s abyss: UN Syria Commission warns of escalating violence, plummeting economy and a humanitarian disaster - 9 March 2022
العربية | English | Français - UN panel welcomes landmark guilty verdict in Germany’s prosecution of former Syrian intelligence officer for crimes against humanity - 14 January 2022
English
2021
- Human Rights Council President appoints Lynn Welchman of the United Kingdom to serve on Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic - 1 December 2021
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 - UN Syria Commission: Increasing violence and fighting add to Syria’s woes, making it unsafe for return - 13 September 2021
English - Military solutions” in Syria have led to a decade of death, denial, and destruction - UN Syria Commission of Inquiry report - 17 February 2021
العربية | English - Commissioners’ op-ed in Le Monde
Français - Commissioners’ op-ed in The Times
English
2020
- COI Syria: No clean hands – behind the frontlines and the headlines, armed actors continue to subject civilians to horrific and increasingly targeted abuse - 14 September 2020
English | العربية - Rampant human rights violations and war crimes as war-torn Idlib faces the pandemic UN Syria Commission of Inquiry report - 6 July 2020
English | العربية - UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria: As global pandemic reaches Syria, fighting must stop and urgent steps taken to prevent an even greater tragedy - 27 March 2020
English | العربية - UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria: Unprecedented levels of displacement and dire conditions for civilians in the Syrian Arab Republic - 1 March 2020
English | العربية - Parties to the conflict must act immediately and collectively to bring meaningful respite to civilians in northwest Syria - 4 February 2020
English | العربية - “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
English | العربية
2019
- UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria: Urgent steps needed to prevent outright catastrophe in north-western Syria - 8 May 2019
العربية | English - UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria: Respect for the rule of law and fundamental rights must not be undermined for political expediency or sacrificed for security considerations - 8 May 2019
العربية | English - UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria: Continued hostilities and lawlessness countrywide render safe and sustainable returns impossible - 28 February 2019
English | العربية
Press Conference - English
2018
- UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria stresses the need to account for the fate and whereabouts of detained and missing individuals countrywide - 27 November 2018
العربية | English - UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria: Temporary Agreement on Idlib a welcome provisional step - 20 September 2018
العربية | English - UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria: Unparalleled numbers of Syrians displaced in under six months - 11 September 2018
English | العربية - Press Statement on presentation of oral report to the Human Rights Council - 26 June 2018
English - The siege and recapture of eastern Ghouta marked by war crimes, crimes against humanity - 19 June 2018
English | العربية - Press statement on on the alleged use of chemical weapons in eastern Ghouta - 12 April 2018
English | العربية - UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria: Sexual and gender-based violence against women, girls, men, and boys a devastating and pervasive feature of the conflict and must end now - 14 March 2018
العربية | English - UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria: Amid the ruins of Ar-Raqqah and Dayr al-Zawr, calls for justice and accountability by victims and families must be urgently addressed - 6 March 2018
English | العربية - UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria Condemns Upsurge in Violence in the Idlib Governorate and eastern Ghouta: Syrian Arab Republic - 6 February 2018
English | العربية
2017
- Human Rights Council President appoints Hanny Megally of Egypt to serve on Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic - 12 October 2017
English | العربية - 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 - 5 September 2017
English | العربية - Statement of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Syria Regarding the Announcement of the Resignation of Ms. Carla Del Ponte - 5 August 2017
English - Commission of Inquiry on Syria calls for justice on the occasion of the third anniversary of ISIL’s attack on the Yazidis - 2 August 2017
English | العربية | Kurdish - Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic - UN Syria Commission Condemns Khan Shikhoun Attack - 3 April 2017
العربية | English - Warring parties continued to target civilians for abuses over last seven months – UN Commission - 13 March 2017
English - Aleppo aerial campaign deliberately targeted hospitals and humanitarian convoy amounting to war crimes, while armed groups’ indiscriminate shelling terrorised civilians – UN Commission - 28 February 2017
العربية | English
2016
- Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic As peace talks stall, violence soars once again in Syria – New UN report - 5 September 2016
English | العربية - UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria Condemns Unlawful Attacks in the Syrian Arab Republic - 10 May 2016
English
2015
- The Commission of Inquiry on Syria Welcomes the UN Security Council’s Road Map for Peace in the Syrian Arab Republic - 20 December 2015
English - Video Press Conference by COI on the Syrian Arab Republic - 12 November 2015
English - Video Press Conference by COI on the Syrian Arab Republic - 3 September 2015
English - UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria: No end in sight for Syrian civilians - 3 September 2015
English Press conference opening remarks by Mr. Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro - 3 September 2015
English - UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria: No end in sight for Syrian civilians - 3 September 2015
English - Commission of Inquiry on Syria welcomes release of three human rights defenders held by the Government - 14 August 2015
English - Oral Update of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic - 23 June 2015
English - UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria: Impunity prevails as little progress is made towards securing peace and justice for Syrians - 20 February 2015
English
2014
- UN Commission of Inquiry: Syrian victims reveal ISIS’s calculated use of brutality and indoctrination - 14 November 2014
English - Syria’s brutal war threatens international peace and security: UN commission of inquiry - 27 August 2014
English
2013
- UN panel concludes that enforced disappearances in Syria widespread and being used as tactic of war - 19 December 2013
English العربية - Commission of inquiry on Syria to brief General Assembly, Monday 29 July - 26 July 2013
English - Press release from the Commission of Inquiry on Syria (chemical weapons) - 6 May 2013
English Arabic French - UN Commission of Inquiry releases update on Syria - 11 March 2013
English - UN commission of inquiry: all parties becoming increasingly reckless with human life as the Syrian conflict drags on - 18 February 2013
English Arabic French Spanish Russian Chinese
2012
- Syria Commission of Inquiry releases new update - 20 December 2012
English Arabic French - Syrian Government forces and anti-Government groups responsible for war crimes: UN Commission of Inquiry - 15 August 2012
English Arabic - Press Release by Commission of Inquiry on Syria (Periodic Update) - 16 April 2012
English
2011
- The findings of the Independent Commission of Inquiry on Syria – 28 November 2011
English - Members of Commission of Inquiry on Syria meet in Geneva – 27 September 2011
English - President of Human Rights Council appoints International Commission of Inquiry to investigate human rights violations in Syria – 12 September 2011
English
MEETING SUMMARIES
2015
- Human Rights Council adopts ten texts, extends mandates on Syria, Iran, Democratic People's Republic of Korea and Myanmar - 27 March 2015
English - Human Rights Council holds interactive dialogue with the Commission of Inquiry on Syria Human Rights Council - 17 March 2015
English
2014
- Human Rights Council holds interactive dialogue with Commission of Inquiry on Syria MORNING/MIDDAY - 16 September 2014
English - Human Rights council holds interactive dialogue with Commission of Inquiry on Syria - 17 June 2014
English - Human Rights Council extends mandates on Syria, Iran, Democratic People's Republic of Korea and Myanmar - 28 March 2014
English - Human Rights Council holds interactive dialogue with Commission of Inquiry on Syria - 18 March 2014
English
2013
- Council condemns all violations of Human Rights in Syria, urges the Government to cooperate with the Commission of Inquiry - 14 June 2013
English - Council condemns gross violations of human rights by Syria, asks Commission of Inquiry to Conduct Inquiry into events in Al Qusayr - 29 May 2013
English - Human Rights Council extends mandates on Syria, Iran and freedom of religion or belief - 22 March 2013
English
2012
- Council adopts five texts, appoints Members of Advisory Committee, Commission of Inquiry on Syria, Special Rapporteurs – 28 September 2012 (afternoon)
English French - Human Rights Council extends the mandates of the Commission of Inquiry on Syria and the Independent Expert on Sudan – 28 September 2012 (morning)
English French - Human Rights Council holds Interactive dialogue with Chair of International Commission of Inquiry on Syria – 17 September 2012 (morning)
English French - Human Rights Council appoints Special Rapporteur on Eritrea, extends mandates on Côte d'Ivoire and Somalia; Adopts Resolutions on Syria, Mali, Nelson Mandela International Day and Arbitrary Detention – 6 July 2012 (morning)
English French - Human Rights Council discusses human rights situation in Syria – 27 June 2012 (morning)
English French - Council concludes Special session on deteriorating human rights situation in Syria and the recent killings in El Houleh - 1 June 2012 (Round-up)
English French - Human Rights Council requests Commission of Inquiry to conduct a Special Inquiry in the events in El Houleh - 1 June 2012 (afternoon)
English French - Human Rights Council opens fourth special session on Syria - 1 June 2012 (morning)
English French - Human Rights Council extends mandates of Special Rapporteur on Myanmar and the Commission of Inquiry on Syria – 23 March 2012 (morning)
English French - Human Rights Council concludes dialogue on Syria and begins general debate on human rights situations requiring its attention – 13 March (morning)
English French - Council holds Interactive dialogue with the Commission of Inquiry on the Situation of Human Rights in Syria – 12 March 2012 (afternoon)
English French - Council adopts resolution on escalating grave human rights violations and deteriorating humanitarian situation in Syria – 1 March 2012 (morning)
English French - Human Rights Council holds urgent debate on Human Rights and humanitarian situation in Syria – 28 February 2012 (midday)
English French
2011
- Human Rights Council establishes Mandate of Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights situation in the Syrian Arab Republic – 2 December 2011 (Round-up)
English French - Council concludes Special Session on situation of Human Rights in Syria, established mandate of Special Rapporteur for Syria - 2 December 2011 (afternoon)
English French - Human Rights Council opens Special Session on Human Rights in Syrian Arab Republic – 2 December 2011 (morning)
English French - Human Rights Council to hold Special Session on Syrian Arab Republic– 2 December 2011 (Background Release)
English French - Human Rights Council holds interactive dialogues on Situation of Human Rights in Syria and in Sudan – 19 September 2011 (afternoon)
English French - Human Rights Council decides to dispatch a commission of inquiry to investigate human rights violations in the Syrian Arab Republic- 23 August 2011 (Round-up)
English French - The Human Rights Council concludes its second special session on the situation of human rights in the Syrian Arab Republic- 23 August 2011
English French - Human Rights Council debates situation of human rights in Syrian Arab Republic in Special Session - 22 August 2011
English French
