SNHR has released its monthly special report that documents violations against medical, Civil Defense, and Red Crescent personnel, and their respective facilities by the parties to the conflict in Syria, which documented the death of 91 medical, Civil Defense, and Red Crescent personnel in Syria, and 198 attacks against their respective facilities in 2018.
 
The report stresses that saving the wounded is now widely perceived in Syria as a dangerous profession that might lead to death, in light of the blatant violations of international humanitarian law that affect medical personnel and facilities.
According to the report, the Syrian regime was once again responsible for perpetrating the majority of crimes against medical personnel and facilities, with regime forces carrying out raids on hospitals and abducting wounded people undergoing treatment, as well as targeting hospitals and other medical facilities using shells, missiles, and barrel bombs. Regime air and ground forces have also bombed civil defense facilities and international humanitarian insignia repeatedly, killing many of their personnel.
 
The report notes that while the other parties to the conflict have also perpetrated similar violations, this has been to a lesser extent and in smaller numbers than the regime. ISIS members raided makeshift hospitals and dispensaries and abducted some of the wounded, doctors, and paramedics. Also, ISIS barred some doctors from practicing under their proscriptive, discriminatory laws. Meanwhile, Coalition forces (international coalition and SDF) have targeted a number of hospitals and other medical facilities.
 
The report adds that violations against medical and civil defense personnel affect not only those individuals, but also have a devastating effect on the lives of people in need of the medical care services, treatment, and rescue services they provide. Consequently, these violations result in the deaths of many more of the wounded and those trapped under the rubble of buildings destroyed in bombing.
 
Fadel Abdul Ghany, chairman of SNHR, says:
“Attacks on medical and civil defense centers as well as medical and civil defense personnel, are considered a blatant violation of international humanitarian law and constitute war crimes given the indiscriminate, and in many cases, deliberate, targeting of protected objects. All of this has only deepened the suffering of the wounded and injured and is one of the main reasons behind the displacement of the Syrian people as it sends a very clear message: there is no safe area, or red line, including hospitals – you either flee or perish.”
According to the report, December saw the death of one Civil Defense rescue worker. As was the case in the preceding months, the second half of 2018 saw the lowest death toll amongst medical, Civil Defense, and Red Crescent personnel since the outbreak of the popular uprising for democracy in Syria in March 2011.
The report notes that the first third of 2018 was the most dangerous period documented during this year for medical and Civil Defense personnel, and their related facilities, due to the sharp escalation in military operations by Syrian-Russian forces on the three de-escalation zones (specific areas in the north of Homs governorate, parts of Daraa and Quneitra governorates, and the Eastern Ghouta in Damascus Suburbs governorate) which resulted in agreements according to which those areas’ residents were forcibly displaced. As a result of these factors, the first third of the year saw acts of killing against workers in the health sector which accounted for 68 percent of the total death toll amongst individuals in this category in 2018, and 66 percent of the record of attacks on medical and rescue facilities. The last eight months of the year saw an increase in the frequency of bombings around medical facilities and Civil Defense facilities – mostly in the north of Syria – in addition to kidnappings of medical personnel in light of the security chaos in those areas.
The report adds that the Syrian-Russian alliance is by far the primary culprit, ahead of any other parties, in terms of violations committed against the health sector last year, being responsible for the death of 74 percent of the death toll among health sector workers, and perpetrating 81 percent of the total attacks documented on vital facilities in the same sector.
 
The report records that 91 medical, civil defense, and Red Crescent personnel were killed in 2018 at the hands of the main parties to the conflict in Syria, with 54 of this number killed by Syrian Regime forces. Another 13 are believed to have been killed by Russian forces, two by ISIS and two at the hands of the Kurdish Self-Management forces, while four were killed at the hands of International Coalition forces, and 16 at the hands of other parties.
 
The report details the victims in 2018, with Syrian Regime forces killing two doctors and 11 nurses, four of whom were women, as well as six paramedics, 20 Civil Defense personnel, one Red Crescent personnel and 14 medical personnel, including one woman. Meanwhile, Russian forces killed three doctors, including one woman, as well as one paramedic, eight Civil Defense personnel and one woman from the medical personnel.
 
According to the report, ISIS killed two doctors, including one woman. The Self-Management forces killed one pharmacist and one Civil Defense rescue worker. International Coalition forces killed three nurses, including one woman, and one paramedic. Other parties killed three doctors, including one woman, one nurse, one paramedic, one pharmacist, eight Civil Defense personnel and two medical personnel.
 
The report also documents 198 attacks on vital medical, Civil Defense, and Red Crescent facilities in 2018. Of these, 105 attacks were perpetrated by Syrian Regime forces including 60 on medical facilities, three on ambulances, 37 on Civil Defense centers, and five on Red Crescent centers.
 
According to the report, Russian forces perpetrated 56 attacks in this category in 2018, 25 of which were on medical facilities, 14 on ambulances, and 17 on Civil Defense centers. Self-Management forces perpetrated two attacks on medical facilities, while International Coalition forces carried out five attacks on medical facilities. Others parties carried out 30 attacks, 16 on medical facilities, seven on ambulances, three on Civil Defense centers, and four on Red Crescent centers.
 
The report, also provides the death toll of December, with one Civil Defense rescue worker documented killed at the hands of other parties.
 
The report documents 11 attacks in December on vital medical centers, Civil Defense centers and Red Crescent centers, seven of which were at the hands of the Syrian Regime forces, and all of which targeted Civil Defense centers and vehicles, Other parties perpetrated four attacks, two of which were on ambulances and two on medical facilities.
 
The report stresses that the attacks constitute grave violations of Security Council resolutions 2139 and 2254 which state that indiscriminate attacks must be ceased. Also, the crime of willful killing constitutes a violation of Articles 7 and 8 of the Rome Statute, meaning that these attacks qualify as war crimes
The report adds that the attacks documented in this report constitute violations of Security Council resolution 2286 which states that attacks and threats against the wounded and sick, medical personnel and humanitarian personnel exclusively engaged in medical duties, their means of transport and equipment should be ceased, along with all attacks on hospitals and other medical facilities.
 
The report calls on the Security Council to take additional steps following its adoption of resolutions 2139 and 2254. Also, the report stresses that the Syrian case should be referred to the International Criminal Court and all those who were involved should be held accountable, including the Russian regime whose involvement in war crimes has been repeatedly proven.
 
In addition, the report calls for the implementation of the “Responsibility to Protect (R2P)” norm, especially after all political channels have been exhausted and proven fruitless despite all the agreements, as well as Cessation of Hostilities statements and Astana agreements. The report stresses that action should be taken under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter, and that the “Responsibility to Protect” norm, which was established by the United Nations General Assembly, should be implemented.
The report calls on the European Union and the United States of America to support the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism that was established in accordance with General Assembly Resolution 71/248, adopted on December 21, 2016, and to establish local tribunals that enjoy universal jurisdiction, and address the war crimes perpetrated in Syria.
 
Also, the report calls on the Commission of Inquiry (COI) and the International, Impartial, and Independent Mechanism (IIIM) to launch investigations into the incidents included in this report and previous reports. The report stresses that the SNHR is willing to cooperate and provide more evidences and data.
 
Furthermore, the report calls on the Syrian regime to stop treating the Syrian state as a private family property, end its terrorization of the Syrian people through killing the teams that provide medical, aid and rescue services, as well as to cease bombing hospitals, protected objects, and civilian areas, to respect the customary humanitarian law, and, lastly, to assume full responsibility for all the legal and material repercussions, and to fully compensate victims and their families from the Syrian state’s resources.
 
Additionally, the report calls on the Russian regime and international coalition forces to launch investigations into the incidents included in the report, to make the findings of these investigations public to the Syrian people, and hold all who were involved accountable.
Further, the report calls on the states supporting the SDF to apply pressure on these forces in order to compel them to cease all of their violations in all the areas and towns that are under their control, and to cease all forms of support, including weapons.
 
Lastly, the report calls on the armed opposition factions to ensure the protection of civilians in all areas under their control and to launch investigations into the attacks that have resulted in civilian deaths. The report also stresses that armed opposition factions should distinguish between military and civilian targets and abstain from any indiscriminate attacks.
 

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SNHR has released its monthly special report that documents violations against medical personnel, civil defense personnel, and their respective facilities by the parties to the conflict in Syria.
 
The report stresses that saving the wounded is branded now as a dangerous profession that might lead to death, in light of the blatant international humanitarian law violations that affect medical facilities and their workers.
According to the report, the Syrian regime has perpetrated the majority of crimes against medical personnel and their medical facilities, as its forces have raided hospitals and abducted some of the wounded, and targeted hospitals and medical points using shells, missiles, and barrel bombs, while their forces have bombed civil defense facilities and international humanitarian insignia repeatedly, killing many of their personnel.
 
The report notes that the rest of the parties to the conflict have perpetrated similar violations but to less extents and at smaller rates. ISIS members raided makeshift hospitals and dispensaries and abducted some of the wounded, doctors, and paramedics. Also, ISIS barred some doctors from practicing as per their discriminative laws while the Coalition forces (international coalition and SDF) have targeted a number of hospitals and medical points.
 
The report adds that violations against medical and civil defense personnel does not only impact them, but also extends to the lives of the people who are in need of medical care services, treatment, and rescue. Consequently, these violations result in the death of many of the wounded and those who were trapped in rubble.
 
Fadel Abdul Ghany, chairman of SNHR, says:
“Attacks on medical and civil defense centers as well as medical and civil defense personnel are considered a blatant violation of the international humanitarian law and constitute war crimes given the indiscriminate, and in many cases, deliberate, targeting of protected objects. All of this have only deepened the suffering of the wounded and injured and is one of the main reasons behind the displacement of the Syrian people as it sends a very clear message: there is no safe area, or a red line, including hospitals, you either flee or perish.”
 
The report draws upon daily documentation and monitoring, as well as accounts from survivors, eyewitnesses, and local media activists, in addition to analyzing a large number of pictures and videos that were posted online or sent by local activists according to the report.
 
According to the report, the scale of military operations has diminished notably in the month of August across Syria, which reflected on the numbers of victims in general. On the other hand, August was the third month in a row in which new names of forcibly-disappeared persons at the hands of Syrian regime forces came into light as those names were registered as dead in civil records. According to the report, two of those cases were for medical personnel.
In addition, August saw a significant rise in the number of abductions and arrests that targeted medical personnel in north Syria, which were by Hay’at Tahrir al Sham and other parties we couldn’t identify, as we documented four cases. A number of medical facilities have announced that they will be operations partially until they can ensure the safety of their staff as a result of those developments.
 
The report records that 89 medical, civil defense, and Red Crescent personnel have been killed since the start of 2018 at the hands of the parties to the conflict in Syria, including 54 who were killed by Syrian regime forces. The same forces were responsible for the killing of one doctor and one nurse in August, the report notes.
 
Moreover, the report documents seven attacks on vital medical facilities. Of those, two were by Syrian regime forces as they targeted two medical facilities. Additionally, the report records one attack on a medical facility by international coalition forces, and four attacks by other parties that targeted three medical facilities and one ambulance.
 
The report stresses that the attacks constitute a violations of Security Council resolutions 2139 and 2254 which state that indiscriminate attacks must be ceased. Also, the crime of willful killing constitutes a violation of Article 7 and 8 of Rome Statute, which qualify as war crimes
The report adds that the attacks mentioned in this report constitute violations of Security Council resolution 2286 which states that attacks and threats against the wounded and sick, medical personnel and humanitarian personnel exclusively engaged in medical duties, their means of transport and equipment should be ceased, as well as hospitals and other medical facilities.
 
The report calls on the Security Council to take additional steps after resolutions 2139 and 2254 have been adopted. Also, the report stresses that the Syrian case should be referred to the International Criminal Court and all those who were involved should be held accountable, including the Russian regime whose involvement in war crimes has been proven.
 
In addition, the report calls for the implementation of the “Responsibility to Protect (R2P)” norm, especially after all political channels have been consumed through all agreements, as well as Cessation of Hostilities statements and Astana agreements. The report stresses that action should be taken under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations, and the “Responsibility to Protect” norm, which was established by the United Nations General Assembly, should be implemented.
The report calls on the European Union and the United States of America to support the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism that was established in accordance with General Assembly Resolution 71/248, adopted on December 21, 2016. And establish local tribunals that enjoy a universal jurisdiction, and address the war crimes that were perpetrated in Syria.
 
Also, the report calls on the Commission of Inquiry (COI) and the International, Impartial, and Independent Mechanism (IIIM) to launch investigations on the incidents included in this report and past reports. The report stresses that SNHR is willing to cooperate and provide more evidences and data.
 
Further, report calls on the Syrian regime to stop treating the Syrian state as a private family property, cease the terrorization of the Syrian people through killing the teams that provide medical, aid, and rescue services, as well as to cease bombing hospitals, protected objects, and civilian areas, respect the customary humanitarian law, and, lastly, shoulder all the legal and material repercussions, and compensate victims and their families from the Syrian state’s resources.
 
Additionally, the report calls on the Russian regime and international coalition forces to launch investigations in the incidents included in the report, made the findings of these investigations public to the Syrian people, and hold all who were involved accountable.
Further, the report calls on the SDF-supporting states to apply pressure on these forces in order to compel them to cease all of their violations in all the areas and towns that are under their control. And cease all forms of support, including weapons.
 
Lastly, the report calls on the armed opposition factions to ensure the protection of civilians in all areas and launch investigations into the attacks that resulted in civilian deaths. The report also stresses that armed opposition factions should distinguish between military and civilian targets and abstain from any indiscriminate attacks.
 

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SNHR has released its monthly special report that documents violations against medical personnel, civil defense personnel, and their respective facilities by the parties to the conflict in Syria.
 
The report stresses that saving the wounded is branded now as a dangerous profession that might lead to death, in light of the blatant international humanitarian law violations that affect medical facilities and their workers.
According to the report, the Syrian regime has perpetrated the majority of crimes against medical personnel and their medical facilities, as its forces have raided hospitals and abducted some of the wounded, and targeted hospitals and medical points using shells, missiles, and barrel bombs, while their forces have bombed civil defense facilities and international humanitarian insignia repeatedly, killing many of their personnel.
 
The report notes that the rest of the parties to the conflict have perpetrated similar violations but to less extents and at smaller rates. ISIS members raided makeshift hospitals and dispensaries and abducted some of the wounded, doctors, and paramedics. Also, ISIS barred some doctors from practicing as per their discriminative laws while the Coalition forces (international coalition and SDF) have targeted a number of hospitals and medical points.
 
The report adds that violations against medical and civil defense personnel does not only impact them, but also extends to the lives of the people who are in need of medical care services, treatment, and rescue. Consequently, these violations result in the death of many of the wounded and those who were trapped in rubble.
 
Fadel Abdul Ghany, chairman of SNHR, says:
“Attacks on medical and civil defense centers as well as medical and civil defense personnel are considered a blatant violation of the international humanitarian law and constitute war crimes given the indiscriminate, and in many cases, deliberate, targeting of protected objects. All of this have only deepened the suffering of the wounded and injured and is one of the main reasons behind the displacement of the Syrian people as it sends a very clear message: there is no safe area, or a red line, including hospitals, you either flee or perish.”
 
The report draws upon daily documentation and monitoring, as well as accounts from survivors, eyewitnesses, and local media activists, as the report contains one account that was collected by speaking directly to the eyewitnesses and are not cited from any open sources, in addition to analyzing a large number of pictures and videos that were posted online or sent by local activists according to the report.
 
The report notes that July saw an unprecedented drop in the rates of violations against medical and civil defense personnel and their respective facilities, while violations were concentrated in Daraa governorate which was targeted in military operations by Syrian-Russian alliance forces who aimed to seize control of the areas that were out of their control. In addition, bombings, which have been on a rise recently in north Syria, had an impact on the medical sector.
 
The report records that 87 medical, civil defense, and Red Crescent personnel have been killed since the start of 2018 at the hands of the parties to the conflict in Syria. Of those, 52 who were killed by Syrian regime forces, including one medical personnel who was killed in July.
 
Moreover, the report documents four attacks on vital medical facilities. Syrian regime forces were responsible for two attacks on medical facilities, while the report records two incidents of attack by other parties that targeted a medical facility and an ambulance.
 
The report stresses that the attacks constitute a violations of Security Council resolutions 2139 and 2254 which state that indiscriminate attacks must be ceased. Also, the crime of willful killing constitutes a violation of Article 7 and 8 of Rome Statute, which qualify as war crimes
The report adds that the attacks mentioned in this report constitute violations of Security Council resolution 2286 which states that attacks and threats against the wounded and sick, medical personnel and humanitarian personnel exclusively engaged in medical duties, their means of transport and equipment should be ceased, as well as hospitals and other medical facilities.
 
The report calls on the Security Council to take additional steps after resolutions 2139 and 2254 have been adopted. Also, the report stresses that the Syrian case should be referred to the International Criminal Court and all those who were involved should be held accountable, including the Russian regime whose involvement in war crimes has been proven.
 
In addition, the report calls for the implementation of the “Responsibility to Protect (R2P)” norm, especially after all political channels have been consumed through all agreements, as well as Cessation of Hostilities statements and Astana agreements. The report stresses that action should be taken under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations, and the “Responsibility to Protect” norm, which was established by the United Nations General Assembly, should be implemented.
The report calls on the European Union and the United States of America to support the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism that was established in accordance with General Assembly Resolution 71/248, adopted on December 21, 2016. And establish local tribunals that enjoy a universal jurisdiction, and address the war crimes that were perpetrated in Syria.
 
Also, the report calls on the Commission of Inquiry (COI) and the International, Impartial, and Independent Mechanism (IIIM) to launch investigations on the incidents included in this report and past reports. The report stresses that SNHR is willing to cooperate and provide more evidences and data.
 
Further, report calls on the Syrian regime to stop treating the Syrian state as a private family property, cease the terrorization of the Syrian people through killing the teams that provide medical, aid, and rescue services, as well as to cease bombing hospitals, protected objects, and civilian areas, respect the customary humanitarian law, and, lastly, shoulder all the legal and material repercussions, and compensate victims and their families from the Syrian state’s resources.
 
Additionally, the report calls on the Russian regime and international coalition forces to launch investigations in the incidents included in the report, made the findings of these investigations public to the Syrian people, and hold all who were involved accountable.
Further, the report calls on the SDF-supporting states to apply pressure on these forces in order to compel them to cease all of their violations in all the areas and towns that are under their control. And cease all forms of support, including weapons.
 
Lastly, the report calls on the armed opposition factions to ensure the protection of civilians in all areas and launch investigations into the attacks that resulted in civilian deaths. The report also stresses that armed opposition factions should distinguish between military and civilian targets and abstain from any indiscriminate attacks.
 

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SNHR has released its monthly special report that documents violations against medical personnel, civil defense personnel, and their respective facilities by the parties to the conflict in Syria. The report documents that 86 medical, civil defense, and Red Crescent facilities were killed in Syria in the first half of 2018, while their facilities were targeted in 165 attacks in the same period of time.
 
The report stresses that saving the wounded is branded now as a dangerous profession that might lead to death, in light of the blatant international humanitarian law violations that affect medical facilities and their workers.
According to the report, the Syrian regime has perpetrated the majority of crimes against medical personnel and their medical facilities, as its forces have raided hospitals and abducted some of the wounded, and targeted hospitals and medical points using shells, missiles, and barrel bombs, while their forces have bombed civil defense facilities and international humanitarian insignia repeatedly, killing many of their personnel.
 
The report notes that the rest of the parties to the conflict have perpetrated similar violations but to less extents and at smaller rates. ISIS members raided makeshift hospitals and dispensaries and abducted some of the wounded, doctors, and paramedics. Also, ISIS barred some doctors from practicing as per their discriminative laws while the Coalition forces (international coalition and SDF) have targeted a number of hospitals and medical points.
 
The report adds that violations against medical and civil defense personnel does not only impact them, but also extends to the lives of the people who are in need of medical care services, treatment, and rescue. Consequently, these violations result in the death of many of the wounded and those who were trapped in rubble.
 
Fadel Abdul Ghany, chairman of SNHR, says:
“Attacks on medical and civil defense centers as well as medical and civil defense personnel are considered a blatant violation of the international humanitarian law and constitute war crimes given the indiscriminate, and in many cases, deliberate, targeting of protected objects. All of this have only deepened the suffering of the wounded and injured and is one of the main reasons behind the displacement of the Syrian people as it sends a very clear message: there is no safe area, or a red line, including hospitals, you either flee or perish.”
 
The report draws upon daily documentation and monitoring, and on accounts from survivors, eyewitnesses, and local media activists, in addition to analyzing a large number of pictures and videos that were posted online or sent by local activists according to the report.
 
The report notes that June saw a rise in the number of medical and civil defense personnel killed compared to May and April. Syrian-Russian alliance forces topped all parties by killing nine of 13 medical and civil defense personnel killed in June. Of those, eight were killed in Daraa governorate which has been the target of a vicious offensive launched by Syrian-Russian alliance forces in mid-June.
The report adds that Syrian-Russian alliance forces also topped all parties with respect to attacks on vital medical and civil defense facilities in June. Two-thirds of their attacks were concentered in Daraa governorate, as 10 attacks, six on medical facilities and four on civil defense facilities (centers and building), took place in the last third of June.
 
The report records that 86 medical, civil defense, and Red Crescent facilities have been killed since the start of 2018 at the hands of the parties to the conflict in Syria. Of those, 51 were killed by Syrian regime forces, while forces believed to be Russian forces were responsible for 13 deaths. In addition, ISIS and Self-Management forces each killed two, whereas four were killed by international coalition forces and 14 were killed by other parties.
 
The report breaks down the victims of the first half of 2018, as Syrian regime forces killed one doctor, 10 nurses, including four women, six paramedics, 19 civil defense personnel, one Red Crescent personnel, and 14 medical personnel, including one woman. Russian forces killed three doctors, including one woman, one paramedic, eight civil defense personnel, and one female medical staffer.
The report adds that ISIS killed two doctors, including one woman, while Self-Management forces killed one pharmacist and one civil defense personnel. International coalition forces killed three nurses, including one woman, and one paramedic. Other parties killed three doctors, including one woman, one nurse, one paramedic, one female pharmacist, seven civil defense personnel, and one medical personnel.
Moreover, the report documents 165 attacks on vital medical, civil defense, and Red Crescent facilities in the first half of 2018, including 91 attacks by Syrian regime forces that targeted 55 medical facilities, three ambulances, 28 civil defense facilities, and five Red Crescent facilities.
According to the report, Russian forces were responsible for 51 attacks in the first half of 2018, including 23 on medical facilities, while ambulances were targeted in 12 attacks and civil defense facilities in 16 attacks. Self-Management forces and international coalition forces each carried out two attacks on medical facilities. Other parties were responsible for 19 attacks – nine on medical facilities, three on ambulances, three on civil defense facilities, and four on Red Crescent facilities.
 
The report outlines the toll of June’s violations, as it documents that 13 medical and civil defense personnel were killed in June at the hands of Syrian regime forces, Russian forces, Kurdish Self-Management forces, and other parties.
The report breaks down June’s victims, as Syrian regime forces killed on nurse, one paramedic, four civil defense personnel, and four medical personnel. Russian forces, on the other hand, killed one civil defense personnel, while Kurdish Self-Management forces killed one pharmacist. Lastly, other parties killed one doctor and two civil defense personnel in June.
The report records 17 attacks on vital medical and civil defense facilities in June, including 14 by Syrian regime forces that targeted nine medical facilities and five civil defense facilities. Additionally, Russian forces were responsible for one attack on a civil defense facility. Other parties were responsible for two attacks on one civil defense facility and one Red Crescent facility respectively.
 
The report stresses that the attacks constitute a violations of Security Council resolutions 2139 and 2254 which state that indiscriminate attacks must be ceased. Also, the crime of willful killing constitutes a violation of Article 7 and 8 of Rome Statute, which qualify as war crimes
The report adds that the attacks mentioned in this report constitute violations of Security Council resolution 2286 which states that attacks and threats against the wounded and sick, medical personnel and humanitarian personnel exclusively engaged in medical duties, their means of transport and equipment should be ceased, as well as hospitals and other medical facilities.
 
The report calls on the Security Council to take additional steps after resolutions 2139 and 2254 have been adopted. Also, the report stresses that the Syrian case should be referred to the International Criminal Court and all those who were involved should be held accountable, including the Russian regime whose involvement in war crimes has been proven.
 
In addition, the report calls for the implementation of the “Responsibility to Protect (R2P)” norm, especially after all political channels have been consumed through all agreements, as well as Cessation of Hostilities statements and Astana agreements. The report stresses that action should be taken under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations, and the “Responsibility to Protect” norm, which was established by the United Nations General Assembly, should be implemented.
The report calls on the European Union and the United States of America to support the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism that was established in accordance with General Assembly Resolution 71/248, adopted on December 21, 2016. And establish local tribunals that enjoy a universal jurisdiction, and address the war crimes that were perpetrated in Syria.
 
Also, the report calls on the Commission of Inquiry (COI) and the International, Impartial, and Independent Mechanism (IIIM) to launch investigations on the incidents included in this report and past reports. The report stresses that SNHR is willing to cooperate and provide more evidences and data.
 
The report calls on the Syrian regime to stop treating the Syrian state as a private family property, cease the terrorization of the Syrian people through killing the teams that provide medical, aid, and rescue services, as well as to cease bombing hospitals, protected objects, and civilian areas, respect the customary law, and, lastly, shoulder all the legal and material repercussions, and compensate victims and their families from the Syrian state’s resources.
 
Additionally, the report calls on the Russian regime and international coalition forces to launch investigations in the incidents included in the report, made the findings of these investigations public to the Syrian people, and hold all who were involved accountable.
Further, the report calls on the SDF-supporting states to apply pressure on these forces in order to compel them to cease all of their violations in all the areas and towns that are under their control. And cease all forms of support, including weapons.
 
Lastly, the report calls on the armed opposition factions to ensure the protection of civilians in all areas and launch investigations into the attacks that resulted in civilian deaths. The report also stresses that armed opposition factions should distinguish between military and civilian targets and abstain from any indiscriminate attacks.
 

View full Report

SNHR has released its monthly special report that documents violations against medical personnel, civil defense personnel, and their respective facilities by the parties to the conflict in Syria.
 
The report stresses that saving the wounded is branded now as a dangerous profession that might lead to death, in light of the blatant international humanitarian law violations that affect medical facilities and their workers.
According to the report, the Syrian regime has perpetrated the majority of crimes against medical personnel and their medical facilities, as its forces have raided hospitals and abducted some of the wounded, and targeted hospitals and medical points using shells, missiles, and barrel bombs, while their forces have bombed civil defense facilities and international humanitarian insignia repeatedly, killing many of their personnel.
 
The report notes that the rest of the parties to the conflict have perpetrated similar violations but to less extents and at smaller rates. ISIS members raided makeshift hospitals and dispensaries and abducted some of the wounded, doctors, and paramedics. Also, ISIS barred some doctors from practicing as per their discriminative laws while the Coalition forces (international coalition and SDF) have targeted a number of hospitals and medical points.
 
The report adds that violations against medical and civil defense personnel does not only impact them, but also extends to the lives of the people who are in need of medical care services, treatment, and rescue. Consequently, these violations result in the death of many of the wounded and those who were trapped in rubble.
 
Fadel Abdul Ghany, chairman of SNHR, says:
“Attacks on medical and civil defense centers as well as medical and civil defense personnel are considered a blatant violation of the international humanitarian law and constitute war crimes given the indiscriminate, and in many cases, deliberate, targeting of protected objects. All of this have only deepened the suffering of the wounded and injured and is one of the main reasons behind the displacement of the Syrian people as it sends a very clear message: there is no safe area, or a red line, including hospitals, you either all flee or perish.”
 
The report draws upon daily documentation and monitoring, and on accounts from survivors, eyewitnesses, and local media activists, in addition to analyzing a large number of pictures and videos that were posted online or sent by local activists.
 
According to the report, May saw a number of agreements that resulted in Syrian regime forces, backed by Russia, completely seizing control of south Damascus, as well as areas in northern suburbs of Homs governorate. The residents of those areas have been forcibly fled to north Syria. In the wake of those agreements, rates of bombardments by Syrian-Russian alliance forces have notably dropped in most areas, which, in turn, reflected on the overall violations perpetrated in Syrian, including killing medical, civil defense, and Red Crescent personnel, as well as attacks on their vital operative facilities. On the other hand, the report adds, the number of bombings and deaths by gunshot have notably increased in the areas outside the control of Syrian regime forces.
 
The report records that 73 medical, civil defense, and Red Crescent personnel have been killed since the start of 2018 at the hands of the parties to the conflict in Syria, including 43 who were killed by Syrian regime forces.
 
The report documents the killing of six civil defense personnel in May. Of those, one was killed by Syrian regime forces, while the remaining five were killed by other parties.
 
Moreover, the report documents three attacks on vital medical, civil defense, and Red Crescent facilities -one each- that were the result of bombings and gunshots by parties the report have yet to identify at time of this writing.
 
The report stresses that the attacks constitute a violations of Security Council resolutions 2139 and 2254 which state that indiscriminate attacks must be ceased. Also, the crime of willful killing constitutes a violation of Article 7 and 8 of Rome Statute, which qualify as war crimes
 
The report adds that the attacks mentioned in this report constitute violations of Security Council resolution 2286 which states that attacks and threats against the wounded and sick, medical personnel and humanitarian personnel exclusively engaged in medical duties, their means of transport and equipment should be ceased, as well as hospitals and other medical facilities.
 
The report calls on the Security Council to take additional steps after resolutions 2139 and 2254 have been adopted. Also, the report stresses that the Syrian case should be referred to the International Criminal Court and all those who were involved should be held accountable, including the Russian regime whose involvement in war crimes has been proven.
 
In addition, the report calls for the implementation of the “Responsibility to Protect (R2P)” norm, especially after all political channels have been consumed through all agreements, as well as Cessation of Hostilities statements and Astana agreements. The report stresses that action should be taken under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations, and the “Responsibility to Protect” norm, which was established by the United Nations General Assembly, should be implemented.
The report calls on the European Union and the United States of America to support the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism that was established in accordance with General Assembly Resolution 71/248, adopted on December 21, 2016. And establish local tribunals that enjoy a universal jurisdiction, and address the war crimes that were perpetrated in Syria.
 
Also, the report calls on the Commission of Inquiry (COI) and the International, Impartial, and Independent Mechanism (IIIM) to launch investigations on the incidents included in this report and past reports. The report stresses that SNHR is willing to cooperate and provide more evidences and data.
 
Additionally, the report calls on the Russian regime and international coalition forces to launch investigations in the incidents included in the report, made the findings of these investigations public to the Syrian people, and hold all who were involved accountable.
Further, the report calls on the SDF-supporting states to apply pressure on these forces in order to compel them to cease all of their violations in all the areas and towns that are under their control. And cease all forms of support, including weapons.
 

View full Report

SNHR has released its monthly special report that documents violations against medical personnel, civil defense personnel, and their respective facilities by the parties to the conflict in Syria.
 
The report stresses that saving the wounded is branded now as a dangerous profession that might lead to death, in light of the blatant international humanitarian law violations that affect medical facilities and their workers.
According to the report, the Syrian regime has perpetrated the majority of crimes against medical personnel and their medical facilities, as its forces have raided hospitals and abducted some of the wounded, and targeted hospitals and medical points using shells, missiles, and barrel bombs, while their forces have bombed civil defense facilities and international humanitarian insignia repeatedly, killing many of their personnel.
 
The report notes that the rest of the parties to the conflict have perpetrated similar violations but to less extents and at smaller rates. ISIS members raided makeshift hospitals and dispensaries and abducted some of the wounded, doctors, and paramedics. Also, ISIS barred some doctors from practicing as per their discriminative laws while the Coalition forces (international coalition and SDF) have targeted a number of hospitals and medical points.
 
The report adds that violations against medical and civil defense personnel does not only impact them, but also extends to the lives of the people who are in need of medical care services, treatment, and rescue. Consequently, these violations result in the death of many of the wounded and those who were trapped in rubble.
 
Fadel Abdul Ghany, chairman of SNHR, says:
“Attacks on medical and civil defense centers as well as medical and civil defense personnel are considered a blatant violation of the international humanitarian law and constitute war crimes given the indiscriminate, and in many cases, deliberate, targeting of protected objects. All of this have only deepened the suffering of the wounded and injured and is one of the main reasons behind the displacement of the Syrian people as it sends a very clear message: there is no safe area, or a red line, including hospitals, you either flee or perish.”
 
The report draws upon daily documentation and monitoring, and on accounts from survivors, eyewitnesses, and local media activists, in addition to analyzing a large number of pictures and videos that were posted online or sent by local activists according to the report.
 
According to the report, April saw a significant drop in medical personnel deaths and attacks on vital medical, civil defense, and Red Crescent facilities. Syrian regime forces topped all parties with respect to number of attacks, as we’ve recorded 10 attacks on medical and Red Crescent facilities that were concentrated in Idlib governorate and northern suburbs of Homs governorate.
 
The report records that 61 medical, civil defense, and Red Crescent personnel have been killed since the start of 2018 at the hands of the parties to the conflict in Syria, including 40 who were killed by Syrian regime forces.
The report records that 67 medical, civil defense, and Red Crescent personnel have been killed since the start of 2018 at the hands pf the parties to the conflict in Syria, including 42 who were killed by Syrian regime forces.

The report documents the killing of six medical and civil defense personnel in April at the hands of Syrian regime forces, ISIS, and other parties.
 
The report breaks down the victims, as Syrian regime forces killed one paramedic and one medical personnel, while ISIS killed one doctor. Other parties were responsible for the killing of one doctor, one pharmacist, and one medical personnel.
 
Moreover, the report documents 14 attacks on vital medical facilities, civil defense facilities, and Red Crescent facilities, including 10 by Syrian regime forces – seven on medical facilities and three on Red Crescent facilities. Additionally, the report records two attacks by Russian forces on a medical facility and a civil defense facility. Lastly, the report records two attacks on medical facilities by other parties.
 
The report stresses that the attacks constitute a violations of Security Council resolutions 2139 and 2254 which state that indiscriminate attacks must be ceased. Also, the crime of willful killing constitutes a violation of Article 7 and 8 of Rome Statute, which qualify as war crimes
 
The report adds that the attacks mentioned in this report constitute violations of Security Council resolution 2286 which states that attacks and threats against the wounded and sick, medical personnel and humanitarian personnel exclusively engaged in medical duties, their means of transport and equipment should be ceased, as well as hospitals and other medical facilities.
 
The report calls on the Security Council to take additional steps after resolutions 2139 and 2254 have been adopted. Also, the report stresses that the Syrian case should be referred to the International Criminal Court and all those who were involved should be held accountable, including the Russian regime whose involvement in war crimes has been proven.
 
In addition, the report calls for the implementation of the “Responsibility to Protect (R2P)” norm, especially after all political channels have been consumed through all agreements, as well as Cessation of Hostilities statements and Astana agreements. The report stresses that action should be taken under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations, and the “Responsibility to Protect” norm, which was established by the United Nations General Assembly, should be implemented.
The report calls on the European Union and the United States of America to support the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism that was established in accordance with General Assembly Resolution 71/248, adopted on December 21, 2016. And establish local tribunals that enjoy a universal jurisdiction, and address the war crimes that were perpetrated in Syria.
 
Also, the report calls on the Commission of Inquiry (COI) and the International, Impartial, and Independent Mechanism (IIIM) to launch investigations on the incidents included in this report and past reports. The report stresses that SNHR is willing to cooperate and provide more evidences and data.
 
Additionally, the report calls on the Russian regime and international coalition forces to launch investigations in the incidents included in the report, made the findings of these investigations public to the Syrian people, and hold all who were involved accountable.
Further, the report calls on the SDF-supporting states to apply pressure on these forces in order to compel them to cease all of their violations in all the areas and towns that are under their control. And cease all forms of support, including weapons.
 

View full Report

SNHR has released its monthly special report that documents violations against medical personnel, civil defense personnel, and their respective facilities by the parties to the conflict in Syria.

The report stresses that saving the wounded is branded now as a dangerous profession that might lead to death, in light of the blatant international humanitarian law violations that affect medical facilities and their workers.
According to the report, the Syrian regime has perpetrated the majority of crimes against medical personnel and their medical facilities, as its forces have raided hospitals and abducted some of the wounded, and targeted hospitals and medical points using shells, missiles, and barrel bombs, while their forces have bombed civil defense facilities and international humanitarian insignia repeatedly, killing many of their personnel.

The report notes that the rest of the parties to the conflict have perpetrated similar violations but to less extents and at smaller rates. ISIS members raided makeshift hospitals and dispensaries and abducted some of the wounded, doctors, and paramedics. Also, ISIS barred some doctors from practicing as per their discriminative laws while the Coalition forces (international coalition and SDF) have targeted a number of hospitals and medical points.

The report adds that violations against medical and civil defense personnel does not only impact them, but also extends to the lives of the people who are in need of medical care services, treatment, and rescue. Consequently, these violations result in the death of many of the wounded and those who were trapped in rubble.

Fadel Abdul Ghany, chairman of SNHR, says:
“Attacks on medical and civil defense centers as well as medical and civil defense personnel are considered a blatant violation of the international humanitarian law and constitute war crimes given the indiscriminate, and in many cases, deliberate, targeting of protected objects. All of this have only deepened the suffering of the wounded and injured and is one of the main reasons behind the displacement of the Syrian people as it sends a very clear message: there is no safe area, or a red line, including hospitals, you either flee or perish.”

The report draws upon daily documentation and monitoring, and on accounts from survivors, eyewitnesses, and local media activists, in addition to analyzing a large number of pictures and videos that were posted online or sent by local activists according to the report.

According to the report, March’s attacks were concentrated on medical facilities, as we’ve documented 16 attacks on medical facilities, including 10 attacks by Syrian regime forces, and three attacks by Russian forces.
The report adds that Syrian regime forces and their allies continue their widespread offensive in Eastern Ghouta, Damascus suburbs for a second month. This offensive has resulted in the killing of 19 medical and civil defense personnel, as Syrian regime forces have topped all parties in this regard. In addition, the offensive has involved a large number of attacks on vital medical facilities and civil defense facilities, where 15 attacks by Syrian regime forces were recorded in Eastern Ghouta out of 18 attacks carried out by Syrian regime forces in March across Syria.

The report records that 61 medical, civil defense, and Red Crescent personnel have been killed since the start of 2018 at the hands of the parties to the conflict in Syria, including 40 who were killed by Syrian regime forces.
The report documents the killing of 24 medical and civil defense personnel in March at the hands of Syrian regime forces, Russian forces, Kurdish Self-Management forces, and other parties.

The report breaks down the victims, as Syrian regime forces killed one doctor, four nurses, including two women, one paramedic, three medical personnel, and 10 civil defense personnel, while Russian forces killed two doctors, including one woman, and one civil defense personnel. On the other hand, Kurdish Self-Management forces killed one civil defense personnel. Lastly, one nurse was killed by other parties.

Moreover, the report documents 27 attacks on vital medical facilities, civil defense facilities, and Red Crescent facilities, including 18 by Syrian regime forces – 10 on medical facilities and eight on civil defense facilities. Additionally, the report records five attacks by Russian forces, including three attacks that targeted medical facilities, in addition to two attacks that targeted civil defense facilities. In addition, the report also records one attack by international coalition forces that targeted one medical facility, while the report records three attacks by other parties who targeted two medical facilities and one Red Crescent facility.

The report stresses that the attacks constitute a violations of Security Council resolutions 2139 and 2254 which state that indiscriminate attacks must be ceased. Also, the crime of willful killing constitutes a violation of Article 7 and 8 of Rome Statute, which qualify as war crimes

The report adds that the attacks mentioned in this report constitute violations of Security Council resolution 2286 which states that attacks and threats against the wounded and sick, medical personnel and humanitarian personnel exclusively engaged in medical duties, their means of transport and equipment should be ceased, as well as hospitals and other medical facilities.

The report calls on the Security Council to take additional steps after resolutions 2139 and 2254 have been adopted. Also, the report stresses that the Syrian case should be referred to the International Criminal Court and all those who were involved should be held accountable, including the Russian regime whose involvement in war crimes has been proven.

In addition, the report calls for the implementation of the “Responsibility to Protect (R2P)” norm, especially after all political channels have been consumed through all agreements, as well as Cessation of Hostilities statements and Astana agreements. The report stresses that action should be taken under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations, and the “Responsibility to Protect” norm, which was established by the United Nations General Assembly, should be implemented.

The report calls on the European Union and the United States of America to support the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism that was established in accordance with General Assembly Resolution 71/248, adopted on December 21, 2016. And establish local tribunals that enjoy a universal jurisdiction, and address the war crimes that were perpetrated in Syria.

Also, the report calls on the Commission of Inquiry (COI) and the International, Impartial, and Independent Mechanism (IIIM) to launch investigations on the incidents included in this report and past reports. The report stresses that SNHR is willing to cooperate and provide more evidences and data.

Additionally, the report calls on the Russian regime and international coalition forces to launch investigations in the incidents included in the report, made the findings of these investigations public to the Syrian people, and hold all who were involved accountable.
Further, the report calls on the SDF-supporting states to apply pressure on these forces in order to compel them to cease all of their violations in all the areas and towns that are under their control. And cease all forms of support, including weapons.

View full Report

SNHR has released its monthly special report that documents violations against medical personnel, civil defense personnel, and their respective facilities by the parties to the conflict in Syria.
 
The report stresses that saving the wounded is branded now as a dangerous profession that might lead to death, in light of the blatant international humanitarian law violations that affect medical facilities and their workers.
According to the report, the Syrian regime has perpetrated the majority of crimes against medical personnel and their medical facilities, as its forces have raided hospitals and abducted some of the wounded, and targeted hospitals and medical points using shells, missiles, and barrel bombs, while their forces have bombed civil defense facilities and international humanitarian insignia repeatedly, killing many of their personnel.
 
The report notes that the rest of the parties to the conflict have perpetrated similar violations but to less extents and at smaller rates. ISIS members raided makeshift hospitals and dispensaries and abducted some of the wounded, doctors, and paramedics. Also, ISIS barred some doctors from practicing as per their discriminative laws while the Coalition forces (international coalition and SDF) have targeted a number of hospitals and medical points.
 
Fadel Abdul Ghany, chairman of SNHR, says:
“Attacks on medical and civil defense centers as well as medical and civil defense personnel are considered a blatant violation of the international humanitarian law and constitute war crimes given the indiscriminate, and in many cases, deliberate, targeting of protected objects. All of this have only deepened the suffering of the wounded and injured and is one of the main reasons behind the displacement of the Syrian people as it sends a very clear message: there is no safe area, or a red line, including hospitals, you either flee or perish.”
 
The report draws upon daily documentation and monitoring, and on accounts from survivors, eyewitnesses, and local media activists, as the report contains three accounts that were collected by speaking directly to eyewitnesses and not cited from any open sources, in addition to analyzing a large number of pictures and videos that were posted online or sent by local activists according to the report.
 
The report notes that February saw an unprecedented rise, since the Cessation of Hostilities agreements went into effect in February 2016, with respect to Syrian regime forces’ and their allies’ attacks on medical facilities and their personnel. This month’s attacks were concentrated in de-escalation zones – most primarily Eastern Ghouta, Damascus suburbs that recorded the killing of 82% of all medical, civil defense, and Red Crescent personnel killed by the Syrian regime in February -a total of 16- as the Syrian regime topped all parties in terms of killing, while Russian forces were the second-most party to kill medical and civil defense personnel in February with six who were all killed in Idlib governorate.
 
The report documents the killing of 28 medical, civil defense, and Red Crescent personnel in February at the hands of Syrian regime forces, Russian forces, international coalition forces, and other parties.
 
The report breaks down the victims, as Syrian regime forces killed four nurses, including women, three civil defense personnel, six medical personnel, two paramedics, and one Red Crescent personnel, while Russian forces killed one paramedic and civil defense personnel. In addition, international coalition forces killed one paramedic and three nurses, including one woman, while one doctor and one paramedic, the report records, were killed by other parties.
 
Moreover, the report documents 59 attacks on vital medical facilities, civil defense facilities, and Red Crescent facilities, including 33 by Syrian regime forces – 21 on medical facilities, nine on civil defense facilities, one on an ambulance, and two on facilities for the Red Crescent. Additionally, the report records 23 attacks by Russian forces, including 11 attacks that targeted medical facilities, in addition to seven attacks that targeted ambulances and five attacks that targeted civil defense facilities.
The report also records one attack by international coalition forces that targeted one medical facility, while the report records two attacks by other parties who targeted a medical facility in one attack while the other attack targeted an ambulance.
 
The report stresses that the attacks constitute a violations of Security Council resolutions 2139 and 2254 which state that indiscriminate attacks must be ceased. Also, the crime of willful killing constitutes a violation of Article 7 and 8 of Rome Statute, which qualify as war crimes
 
The report adds that the attacks mentioned in this report constitute violations of Security Council resolution 2286 which states that attacks and threats against the wounded and sick, medical personnel and humanitarian personnel exclusively engaged in medical duties, their means of transport and equipment should be ceased, as well as hospitals and other medical facilities.
 
The report calls on the Security Council to take additional steps after resolutions 2139 and 2254 have been adopted. Also, the report stresses that the Syrian case should be referred to the International Criminal Court and all those who were involved should be held accountable, including the Russian regime whose involvement in war crimes has been proven.
 
In addition, the report calls for the implementation of the “Responsibility to Protect (R2P)” norm, especially after all political channels have been consumed through all agreements, as well as Cessation of Hostilities statements and Astana agreements. The report stresses that action should be taken under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations, and the “Responsibility to Protect” norm, which was established by the United Nations General Assembly, should be implemented.
The report calls on the European Union and the United States of America to support the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism that was established in accordance with General Assembly Resolution 71/248, adopted on December 21, 2016. And establish local tribunals that enjoy a universal jurisdiction, and address the war crimes that were perpetrated in Syria.
 
Also, the report calls on the Commission of Inquiry (COI) and the International, Impartial, and Independent Mechanism (IIIM) to launch investigations on the incidents included in this report and past reports. The report stresses that SNHR is willing to cooperate and provide more evidences and data.
 
Additionally, the report calls on the Russian regime and international coalition forces to launch investigations in the incidents included in the report, made the findings of these investigations public to the Syrian people, and hold all who were involved accountable.
Further, the report calls on the SDF-supporting states to apply pressure on these forces in order to compel them to cease all of their violations in all the areas and towns that are under their control. And cease all forms of support, including weapons.
 

View full Report

SNHR has released its monthly special report that documents violations against medical personnel, civil defense personnel, and their respective facilities by the parties to the conflict in Syria.
 
The report stresses that saving the wounded is branded now as a dangerous profession that might lead to death, in light of the blatant international humanitarian law violations that affect medical facilities and their workers.
 
According to the report, the Syrian regime has perpetrated the majority of crimes against medical personnel and their medical facilities, as its forces have raided hospitals and abducted some of the wounded, and targeted hospitals and medical points using shells, missiles, and barrel bombs, while their forces have bombed civil defense facilities and international humanitarian insignia repeatedly, killing killing many of their personnel.
 
The report notes that the rest of the parties to the conflict have perpetrated similar violations but to less extents and at smaller rates. ISIS members raided makeshift hospitals and dispensaries and abducted some of the wounded, doctors, and paramedics. Also, ISIS barred some doctors from practicing as per their discriminative laws while the Coalition forces (international coalition and SDF) have targeted a number of hospitals and medical points.
 
Fadel Abdul Ghany, chairman of SNHR, says:
“Attacks on medical and civil defense centers as well as medical and civil defense personnel are considered a blatant violation of the international humanitarian law and constitute war crimes given the indiscriminate, and in many cases, deliberate, targeting of protected objects. All of this have only deepened the suffering of the wounded and injured and is one of the main reasons behind the displacement of the Syrian people as it sends a very clear message: there is no safe area, or a red line, including hospitals, you either flee or perish.”
 
The report draws upon daily documentation and monitoring, and on accounts from survivors, eyewitnesses, and local media activists, as the report contains three accounts that were collected by speaking directly to eyewitnesses and not cited from any open sources, in addition to analyzing a large number of pictures and videos that were posted online or sent by local activists.
 
The report records a rise in the toll of violations against medical and civil defense personnel by Syrian-Russian alliance forces in the month of January. Most of these violations were concentrated in de-escalation zones – particularly Idlib governorate, Eastern Ghouta, and Hama governorate.
According to the report, the were centered on medical facilities in January, as 21 attacks were recorded. The report also records an \increase in the number of attacks on vital medical facilities that were the result of bombings compared to past months. All of these incidents took place in Idlib governorate. Additionally, the report records that Syrian-Russian alliance forces have targeted specific medical facilities in repeated attacks.
 
The report documents the killing of nine medical and civil defense personnel in January at the hands of Syrian regime forces, Russian forces, and ISIS.
 
The report breaks down the details of the victims, where Syrian regime forces killed one nurse, one paramedic, one civil defense personnel, and two medical personnel, while Russian forces killed one doctor, one female medical personnel, and one civil defense personnel. In addition, ISIS killed one female doctor.
 
The report documents 45 attacks on vital medical facilities, civil defense facilities, and Red Crescent facilities, including 16 by Syrian regime forces who targeted eight medical facilities, two ambulances, and six civil defense facilities. The report also records 20 attacks by Russian forces on eight medical facilities, five ambulances, and seven civil defense facilities. Self-Management forces were responsible for two attacks on medical facilities.
 
The report stresses that the attacks constitute a violations of Security Council resolutions 2139 and 2254 which state that indiscriminate attacks must be ceased. Also, the crime of willful killing constitutes a violation of Article 7 and 8 of Rome Statute, which qualify as war crimes
 
The report adds that the attacks mentioned in this report constitute violations of Security Council resolution 2286 which states that attacks and threats against the wounded and sick, medical personnel and humanitarian personnel exclusively engaged in medical duties, their means of transport and equipment should be ceased, as well as hospitals and other medical facilities.
 
The report calls on the Security Council to take additional steps after resolutions 2139 and 2254 have been adopted. Also, the report stresses that the Syrian case should be referred to the International Criminal Court and all those who were involved should be held accountable, including the Russian regime whose involvement in war crimes has been proven.
 
In addition, the report calls for the implementation of the “Responsibility to Protect (R2P)” norm, especially after all political channels have been consumed through all agreements, as well as Cessation of Hostilities statements and Astana agreements. The report stresses that action should be taken under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations, and the “Responsibility to Protect” norm, which was established by the United Nations General Assembly, should be implemented.
 
The report calls on the European Union and the United States of America to support the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism that was established in accordance with General Assembly Resolution 71/248, adopted on December 21, 2016. And establish local tribunals that enjoy a universal jurisdiction, and address the war crimes that were perpetrated in Syria.
 
Also, the report calls on the Commission of Inquiry (COI) and the International, Impartial, and Independent Mechanism (IIIM) to launch investigations on the incidents included in this report and past reports. The report stresses that SNHR is willing to cooperate and provide more evidences and data.
 
Additionally, the report calls on the Russian regime and international coalition forces to launch investigations in the incidents included in the report, made the findings of these investigations public to the Syrian people, and hold all who were involved accountable.
 
Further, the report calls on the SDF-supporting states to apply pressure on these forces in order to compel them to cease all of their violations in all the areas and towns that are under their control. And cease all forms of support, including weapons.
 
Lastly, the report calls on armed opposition factions to ensure the protection of civilians in all of their areas of control. Also, armed opposition factions should distinguish between civilians and military targets, and cease any indiscriminate attacks.
 

View full Report

SNHR has published its special monthly report that documents the violations against medical and civil defense personnel and their respective facilities by the parties to the conflict in Syria.
 
The report stresses that Syrian regime forces have been involved, since 2011, in targeting and bombing medical and civil defense facilities as well as the parties to the conflict that targeted medical and civil defense personnel in killing and arrest operations. This indicates a deliberate policy that only aims to kill more and deepen the suffering of the wounded whether they were civilians or armed.
 
Fadel Abdul Ghany, chairman of SNHR, says:
“Attacks on medical and civil defense centers as well as medical and civil defense personnel are considered a blatant violation of the international humanitarian law and constitute war crimes given the chaotic, and in many cases, deliberate, targeting of protected objects. All of this have only deepened the suffering of the wounded and injured and is one of the main reasons behind the displacement of the Syrian people as it sends a very clear message: there is no safe area, or a red line, including hospitals, you either flee or perish”
 
The report notes that a comprehensive ceasefire was announced from the Turkish capital Ankara under a Russian-Turkish sponsorship on December 30, 2016. The signing parties, the Syrian regime on one side and armed opposition factions on the other side, agreed to cease all armed attacks in the majority of the Syrian region. The military areas controlled by ISIS (self-proclaimed the Islamic State) were excluded from the agreement.
The report adds that Ankara Ceasefire Agreement was followed by seven rounds of talks that were held in Astana, Kazakhstan’s capital, between Russian, Turkish, and Iranian representatives as the states who sponsored Ankara Ceasefire Agreement. These rounds -the most recent of which was on October 30-31, 2017- discussed mostly, in parallel with a number of local agreements, ways to further establish de-escalation zones in Idlib governorate and the surrounding areas (parts of Aleppo, Hama, and Latakia governorates), northern Homs governorate, Eastern Ghouta, and parts of Daraa and Quneitra governorates in south Syria. Additionally, the talks addressed ways to deliver humanitarian aids and enable IDPs to return to those areas.
Since these agreements went into effect, the included areas saw a relatively good and noticeable drop in killing rates in relation to the past months since March 2011.
 
The report notes that these agreements reflected on the civilians’ lives in most of the included areas, as patients were able to go to hospitals and medical points, and many children went back to school after their families prevented them out of fear for their lives in light of the repeated bombing that targeted schools, as well as hospitals. Markets became more active, and many infrastructure services were restored thanks to a number of maintenance campaigns. Nonetheless, breaches didn’t stop, mainly by the Syrian regime, who is seemingly the party that would be most affected should the ceasefire go on, and in particular extrajudicial killing crimes and, more horrendously, deaths due to torture. This strongly asserts that there is a ceasefire of some sort on the table, but the crimes that the international community -especially the guarantors- won’t see are still going on as nothing had changed.
 
The report stresses that Syrian-Russian alliance have initiated a vicious offensive against Eastern Ghouta on the 14th of last November despite a de-escalation agreement that was reached in Eastern Ghouta between Jaish al Islam, an armed opposition faction, and Russian forces under an Egyptian sponsorship on Saturday, July 22, 2017, and was followed by a similar agreement with Failaq al Rahman faction that established the faction’s inclusion in the de-escalation zone in Eastern Ghouta on Wednesday, August 16, 2017.
 
The report outlines the most notable violations against medical, civil defense, and Red Crescent personnel in 2017 as the report documents that 51 of them were killed by Syrian regime forces, including 32 medical personnel and 18 civil defense personnel, in addition to one Red Crescent Personnel. In addition, Russian forces killed 23 medical, civil defense, and Red Crescent personnel, including three women, where the 23 victims are divided into 12 medical personnel, 10 civil defense personnel, and one Red Crescent personnel. ISIS killed five – two medical personnel and three civil defense personnel.
 
Additionally, the report records that three medical personnel were killed by Self-Management forces, three by armed opposition factions, and eight by international coalition forces. Also, other parties were responsible for the killing of 19 who were divided into 13 civil defense personnel, four medical personnel, and two Red Crescent personnel.
 
According to the report, the parties to the conflict in Syria were responsible for 243 attacks on vital medical, civil defense, and Red Crescent facilities in 2017, including 117 attacks by Syrian regime forces who targeted, in these attacks, 37 medical facilities, 18 ambulances, three Red Crescent facilities, and 59 civil defense facilities. The report, on the other hand, records 92 attacks by Russian forces that targeted 47 medical facilities, 16 ambulances, 28 civil defense facilities, and one Red Crescent facility. Further, armed opposition factions were responsible for three attacks that targeted one medical facility, one ambulance, and one Red Crescent facility while international coalition forces targeted seven medical facilities and Self-Management forces targeted two medical facilities. Lastly, other parties were responsible for 22 attacks – seven on medical facilities, three on ambulances, six on civil defense centers, and six on Red Crescent facilities.
 
The report documents that six medical and civil defense personnel were killed in December at the hands of Syrian regime forces and Russian forces.
 
The report breaks down the details of the victims as Syrian regime forces killed two nurses and two civil defense personnel while Russian forces killed two medical personnel.
 
Also, the report documents 12 attacks on vital medical, civil defense, and Red Crescent facilities, including five by Syrian regime forces who targeted two medical facilities, two civil defense facilities, and one Red Crescent facility while the report documents seven attacks by Russian forces on three medical facilities, two ambulances, and two civil defense facilities.
 
The report says that SNHR implements a high-level methodology for documentation which relies on survivors and families’ direct accounts in addition to the process of verifying and analyzing pictures, videos, and some medical records. However, the report notes that this documentation doesn’t include all the cases light of the ban and pursuit by Syrian regime forces and some of the other armed groups. In light of that, the type and number of evidences vary from one case to another. In light of the challenges we mentioned above, many of the incidents’ legal description change based on new evidences or clues that surface after we had released the report. We add these evidences and clues to our data archive. On the other hand, many incidents don’t constitute a violation to the international humanitarian law, but it involved collateral damages, so we record and archive these incidents to know what happened historically and to preserve it as a national record. However, they don’t necessarily qualify as crimes.
 
The report notes that Security Council Resolutions 2139 and 2254, which state that indiscriminate attacks must be halted, have been violated in these attacks. Also, the crime of willful killing constitutes a violation of Article 8 of Rome Statute which amounts to war crimes.
 
Moreover, Syrian forces have violated the rules of the international human rights law, committing acts that constitute war crimes. Additionally, Russian forces, ISIS, armed opposition factions, Self-Management forces, international coalition forces and other parties have carried out acts that amount to war crimes through the crime of extrajudicial killing or the targeting of vital civilian facilities.
 
The report calls on the Security Council to take additional steps as it has been more than two years since Resolution 2139 was adopted with no pledges to cease the indiscriminate bombardment operations being made.
 
The report emphasizes that the Security Council has to instill peace and security in Syria and implement the norm of “Responsibility to Protect” in order to save the Syrian people’s lives, culture, and arts from being destroyed, looted, and ruined. Also, sanctions must be expanded to include the Russian and Iranian regimes who have been directly involved in perpetrating crimes against humanity and war crimes against the Syrian people.
 
The report also calls for the implementation of the Responsibility to Protect (ICRtoP) norm after all others political routes were drought out through the Arab League and then Mr. Kofi Annan’s plan and the Cessation of Hostilities statements and Astana agreements that followed. steps under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations should be taken and the norm of the Responsibility to Protect, which was established by the United Nations General Assembly, should be implemented as the Security Council is still hindering the protection of civilians in Syria. The report also calls for renewing pressure on the Security Council to refer the Syrian case to the International Criminal Court.
 
The report calls on the Russian guarantor to stop the Syrian regime from dooming all de-escalation agreements, and start making progress in the detainees issue by revealing the fates of 76,000 forcibly-disappeared persons.
 
Lastly, the report urges international organizations to send volunteers to work in safe areas where wounded are sent for treatment especially after many death cases were documented where many patients died because of the limited medical resources.
 

View full Report

SNHR has published its special monthly report that documents the violations against medical and civil defense personnel and their respective facilities by the parties to the conflict in Syria.
 
The report stresses that Syrian regime forces have been involved, since 2011, in targeting and bombing medical and civil defense facilities as well as the parties to the conflict that targeted medical and civil defense personnel in killing and arrest operations. This indicates a deliberate policy that only aims to kill more and deepen the suffering of the wounded whether they were civilians or armed.
 
Fadel Abdul Ghany, chairman of SNHR, says:
“Attacks on medical and civil defense centers as well as medical and civil defense personnel are considered a blatant violation of the international humanitarian law and constitute war crimes given the chaotic, and in many cases, deliberate, targeting of protected objects. All of this have only deepened the suffering of the wounded and injured and is one of the main reasons behind the displacement of the Syrian people as it sends a very clear message: there is no safe area, or a red line, including hospitals, you either flee or perish”
 
The report notes that a comprehensive ceasefire was announced from the Turkish capital Ankara under a Russian-Turkish sponsorship on December 30, 2016. The signing parties, the Syrian regime on one side and armed opposition factions on the other side, agreed to cease all armed attacks in the majority of the Syrian region. The military areas controlled by ISIS (self-proclaimed the Islamic State) were excluded from the agreement.
The report adds that Ankara Ceasefire Agreement was followed by seven rounds of talks that were held in Astana, Kazakhstan’s capital, between Russian, Turkish, and Iranian representatives as the states who sponsored Ankara Ceasefire Agreement. These rounds -the most recent of which was on October 30-31, 2017- discussed mostly, in parallel with a number of local agreements, ways to further establish de-escalation zones in Idlib governorate and the surrounding areas (parts of Aleppo, Hama, and Latakia governorates), northern Homs governorate, Eastern Ghouta, and parts of Daraa and Quneitra governorates in south Syria. Additionally, the talks addressed ways to deliver humanitarian aids and enable IDPs to return to those areas.
Since these agreements went into effect, the included areas saw a relatively good and noticeable drop in killing rates in relation to the past months since March 2011.
 
The report notes that these agreements reflected on the civilians’ lives in most of the included areas, as patients were able to go to hospitals and medical points, and many children went back to school after their families prevented them out of fear for their lives in light of the repeated bombing that targeted schools, as well as hospitals. Markets became more active, and many infrastructure services were restored thanks to a number of maintenance campaigns. Nonetheless, breaches didn’t stop, mainly by the Syrian regime, who is seemingly the party that would be most affected should the ceasefire go on, and in particular extrajudicial killing crimes and, more horrendously, deaths due to torture. This strongly asserts that there is a ceasefire of some sort on the table, but the crimes that the international community -especially the guarantors- won’t see are still going on as nothing had changed.
 
The report stresses that Syrian-Russian alliance have initiated a vicious offensive against Eastern Ghouta on the 14th of last November despite a de-escalation agreement that was reached in Eastern Ghouta between Jaish al Islam, an armed opposition faction, and Russian forces under an Egyptian sponsorship on Saturday, July 22, 2017, and was followed by a similar agreement with Failaq al Rahman faction that established the faction’s inclusion in the de-escalation zone in Eastern Ghouta on Wednesday, August 16, 2017.
 
According to the report, November recorded a rise in the toll of violations against medical and civil defense personnel from last October. The parties to the conflict returned to killing civil defense members after a one-month stop. Syrian regime forces trumped all parties by killing five, including four civil defense members. All of the five victims were killed in Eastern Ghouta as part of Syrian regime forces’ offensive against the region. Further, Syrian regime forces were responsible for 11 attacks on vital civilian facilities that all were in Eastern Ghouta. The report adds that attacks on vital medical and civil defense facilities have increased four time compared to last October.
 
The report documents the killing of 104 medical and civil defense personnel at the hands of the parties to the conflict since the start of 2017, while seven civil medical and civil defense personnel were killed in November at the hands of Syrian regime forces, Russian forces, and other parties.
 
The report breaks down the details of the victims, as Syrian regime forces killed one paramedic and five civil defense personnel, while Russian forces killed one medical personnel. Lastly, other parties were responsible for the death of one civil defense personnel.
 
Also, the report documents 34x attacks on vital medical and civil defense facilities, including 11 by Syrian regime forces who targeted four medical facilities and seven civil defense facilities, while the report documents eight attacks by Russian forces on six medical facilities and two civil defense facilities. The remaining five attacks, which were carried out by other parties, targeted medical facilities.
 
The report says that SNHR implements a high-level methodology for documentation which relies on survivors and families’ direct accounts in addition to the process of verifying and analyzing pictures, videos, and some medical records. However, the report notes that this documentation doesn’t include all the cases light of the ban and pursuit by Syrian regime forces and some of the other armed groups. In light of that, the type and number of evidences vary from one case to another. In light of the challenges we mentioned above, many of the incidents’ legal description change based on new evidences or clues that surface after we had released the report. We add these evidences and clues to our data archive. On the other hand, many incidents don’t constitute a violation to the international humanitarian law, but it involved collateral damages, so we record and archive these incidents to know what happened historically and to preserve it as a national record. However, they don’t necessarily qualify as crimes.
 
The report notes that Security Council Resolutions 2139 and 2254, which state that indiscriminate attacks must be halted, have been violated in these attacks. Also, the crime of willful killing constitutes a violation of Article 8 of Rome Statute which amounts to war crimes.
 
Moreover, Syrian forces violated the rules of the international human rights law, committing acts that constitute war crimes. Additionally, Russian forces and other parties have carried out acts that amount to war crimes through the crime of extrajudicial killing or the targeting of vital civilian facilities.
 
The report calls on the Security Council to take additional steps as it has been more than two years since Resolution 2139 was adopted with no pledges to cease the indiscriminate bombardment operations being made.
 
The report emphasizes that the Security Council has to instill peace and security in Syria and implement the norm of “Responsibility to Protect” in order to save the Syrian people’s lives, culture, and arts from being destroyed, looted, and ruined. Also, sanctions must be expanded to include the Russian and Iranian regimes who have been directly involved in perpetrating crimes against humanity and war crimes against the Syrian people.
 
The report also recommends the implementation of the Responsibility to Protect (ICRtoP) norm after all others political routes were drought out through the Arab League and then Mr. Kofi Annan’s plan. steps under Article 7 of the Rome Statute must be taken and the norm of the Responsibility to Protect, which was established by the United Nations General Assembly, must be implemented as the Security Council is still hindering the protection of civilians in Syria. The report also calls for renewing pressure on the Security Council to refer the Syrian case to the International Criminal Court.
 
The report calls on the Russian guarantor to stop the Syrian regime from dooming all de-escalation agreements, and start making progress in the detainees issue by revealing the fates of 76,000 forcibly-disappeared persons.
 
Lastly, the report urges international organizations to send volunteers to work in safe areas where wounded are sent for treatment especially after many death cases were documented where many patients died because of the limited medical resources.
 

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SNHR has published its special monthly report that documents the violations against medical and civil defense personnel and their respective facilities by the parties to the conflict in Syria.
 
The report stresses that Syrian regime forces have been involved, since 2011, in targeting and bombing medical and civil defense facilities as well as the parties to the conflict that targeted medical and civil defense personnel in killing and arrest operations. This indicates a deliberate policy that only aims to kill more and deepen the suffering of the wounded whether they were civilians or armed.
 
Fadel Abdul Ghany, chairman of SNHR, says:
“Attacks on medical and civil defense centers as well as medical and civil defense personnel are considered a blatant violation of the international humanitarian law and constitute war crimes given the chaotic, and in many cases, deliberate, targeting of protected objects. All of this have only deepened the suffering of the wounded and injured and is one of the main reasons behind the displacement of the Syrian people as it sends a very clear message: there is no safe area, or a red line, including hospitals, you either flee or perish”
 
The report highlights the de-escalation agreement in Syria, which commenced on May 6, 2017, after it was announced at the end of the fourth round of Astana talks which was held between representatives from Russia, Turkey, and Iran as the states that sponsored Ankara Ceasefire agreement. The agreement outlined four major de-escalation areas, where a cessation of combat operations will take place in these areas, humanitarian aids will be delivered, and IDPs residents will be allowed a return to these areas. These areas, as specified by the agreement, are: Idlib governorate and the surrounding areas (parts of Aleppo, Hama, and Latakia governorates), northern Homs governorate, Eastern Ghouta, and parts of Daraa and al Quneitra governorates in the southern parts of Syria. It was provided that an expert committee would accurately assign the borders of said zones at a later date.
 
Also, the report briefs that the American and Russian presidents, following an extensive round of talks between Russia, USA, and Jordan that commenced in May 2017 in Amman, Jordan’s capital, announced that a ceasefire agreement has been reached in southwestern Syria – Daraa, Quneitra, and Suwayda governorates on the sidelines of the 2017 G20 summit in Hamburg. The agreement went into force at 12:00 on Sunday July 9, 2017, and provided for the passage of humanitarian aids in addition to a ceasefire between the conflicting parties (Syrian regime forces and their allies on one side, and armed opposition factions on the other side). Also, the agreement specifies that maintaining security in this region is the Russian forces’ responsibility in coordination with the Americans and Jordanians.
 
Then, the report talks about other local agreements that have been struck, such as Eastern Ghouta between armed opposition factions in Eastern Ghouta and officials from the Russian side, and a similar agreement in northern suburbs of Homs governorate. However, the texts of these agreements haven’t been made public on Russian government’s websites, and the same for armed opposition factions who didn’t publicize these agreements, except for Failaq al Rahman who published the text of the agreement on their official website. At the end of the agreement, according to the copy on Failaq al Rahman’s website, a signature by a Russian sponsor was shown but without an explicit name. This helps, the report notes, the sponsoring Russian side to easily dissolve from these agreements with no subsequent political or legal obligations and repercussions.
A de-escalation agreement was signed, according to the Russian Ministry of Defense, in Egypt’s capital Cairo on Saturday, July 22, 2017, in Eastern Ghouta following a round of talks between Russian military officials and factions from the armed opposition that took place in Egypt’s capital Cairo. The agreement was to come into effect at 12:00 of the same day, while Failq al Rahman joined the agreement after a representative from the faction signed the agreement with a Russian government representative in Geneva city on Wednesday, August 16, 2017, as the agreement established Failaq al Rahman’s and their areas’ inclusion in the agreement, where it was to come into effect at 21:00 of Friday, August 18, 2017.
 
The report also sheds light on northern suburbs of Homs and southern suburbs of Hama de-escalation agreement which was signed in Cairo on Monday, July 31, 2017 following a round of talks between armed opposition factions in the area and the Syrian regime represented by the Russian government a sponsoring party, as the agreement was to commence at 12:00 on Thursday, August 3, 2017. Most notably, the agreements provided for a full cessation of hostilities between the conflicting parties in the relevant areas -with the exclusion of the areas in which ISIS and Hay’at Tahrir al Sham are present- and for humanitarian aids to enter these areas and for detainees to be released as per the demands of each party as to which detainees are to be released.
 
The report notes that the included areas have seen a relatively good drop in the rates of killing since the agreements’ commencement in relation to the past months since March 2011. Nonetheless, breaches didn’t stop, mainly by the Syrian regime, who is seemingly the party that would be most affected should the ceasefire go on, and in particular extrajudicial killing crimes and, more horrendously, deaths due to torture, as rates of deaths due to torture didn’t see any changes from the month prior to the commencement of the agreement. This strongly asserts that there is a ceasefire of some sort on the table, but the crimes that the international community -especially the guarantors- won’t see are still going on as nothing had changed.
 
The report adds that with the end of the sixth round of talks in the Kazakhstani capital, Astana, which were held over the course of two days (September 14-15, 2017), a de-escalation zone was established in Idlib governorate and the surrounding areas, as military forces were to be deployed (Russian, Turkish, and Iranian) to monitor the agreement, with the passage of humanitarian aids. However, on September 19, Syrian-Russian alliance started a heavy offensive against Idlib governorate in response to Hay’at Tahrir al Sham’s “Ya Ebadallah Uthbotou” battle. Supported by some opposition faction (The Islamic Turkistani Party, Jaish al Izza, and Jaish al Nukhba), Hay’at Tahrir al Sham started this battle in northeastern Hama governorate. Subsequently, Syrian-Russian alliance expanded the offensive to include the suburbs of Aleppo and Hama governorates and Eastern Ghouta in Damascus suburbs.
 
Furthermore, the report notes that armed opposition factions signed an agreement with a Russian Ministry of Defense representative that stated that southern Damascus city would be added to the de-escalation zones, as the agreement was to come into force at 12:00 of October 12, 2017. The agreement provided for a ceasefire in the area, and ensured that the area residents would not be displaced, in addition to the passage of humanitarian aids to the area.
 
In addition, the report sheds light on Astana talks, as Ankara Agreement guarantor states (Russia, Turkey, and Iran) called on, in their final statement at the conclusion of round 7 of Astana talks that were held on the 30th and 31st of October 2017, the parties to the conflict in Syria to take steps towards building trust, including releasing detainees and forcibly-disappeared persons, delivering dead bodies, and working on delivering humanitarian aids to besieged areas.
 
According to the report, October saw a notable decrease in the rates of violations against medical personnel and their facilities that has not been recorded since last July.
 
The report records that 97 medical personnel and civil defense personnel have been killed at the hands of the parties to the conflict in Syria between the start of 2017 and November of the same year. Additionally, the report documents that four medical and civil defense personnel were killed in October 2017 at the hands of Syrian regime forces, Russian forces, international coalition forces, and armed opposition factions.
 
The report breaks down the details of the victims, as Syrian regime forces killed a paramedic, while Russian forces and international coalition forces each killed a pharmacist. Additionally, armed opposition factions killed one doctor.
 
Also, the report documents six attacks on vital medical and civil defense facilities, including five by Syrian regime forces who targeted two medical facilities and three civil defense facilities, whereas the report records that Russian forces targeted a medical facility.
 
The report implements a high-level methodology for documentation which relies on survivors and families’ direct accounts in addition to the process of verifying and analyzing pictures, videos, and some medical records. However, the report notes that this documentation doesn’t include all the cases light of the ban and pursuit by Syrian regime forces and some of the other armed groups. In light of that, the type and number of evidences vary from one case to another. In light of the challenges we mentioned above, many of the incidents’ legal description change based on new evidences or clues that surface after we had released the report. We add these evidences and clues to our data archive. On the other hand, many incidents don’t constitute a violation to the international humanitarian law, but it involved collateral damages, so we record and archive these incidents to know what happened historically and to preserve it as a national record. However, they don’t necessarily qualify as crimes.
 
The report notes that Security Council Resolutions 2139 and 2254, which state that indiscriminate attacks must be halted, have been violated in these attacks. Also, the crime of willful killing constitutes a violation of Article 8 of Rome Statute which amounts to war crimes.
 
Moreover, Syrian forces violated the rules of the international human rights law, committing acts that constitute war crimes. Additionally, Russian forces, international coalition forces, and some armed opposition factions have carried out acts that amount to war crimes through the crime of extrajudicial killing or the targeting of vital civilian facilities.
 
The report calls on the Security Council to take additional steps as it has been more than two years since Resolution 2139 was adopted with no pledges to cease the indiscriminate bombardment operations being made.
 
The report emphasizes that the Security Council has to instill peace and security in Syria and implement the norm of “Responsibility to Protect” in order to save the Syrian people’s lives, culture, and arts from being destroyed, looted, and ruined. Also, sanctions must be expanded to include the Russian and Iranian regimes who have been directly involved in perpetrating crimes against humanity and war crimes against the Syrian people.
 
The report also recommends the implementation of the Responsibility to Protect (ICRtoP) norm after all others political routes were drought out through the Arab League and then Mr. Kofi Annan’s plan. steps under Article 7 of the Rome Statute must be taken and the norm of the Responsibility to Protect, which was established by the United Nations General Assembly, must be implemented as the Security Council is still hindering the protection of civilians in Syria. The report also calls for renewing pressure on the Security Council to refer the Syrian case to the International Criminal Court.
 
The report calls on the Russian guarantor to stop the Syrian regime from dooming all de-escalation agreements, and start making progress in the detainees issue by revealing the fates of 76,000 forcibly-disappeared persons.
 
Lastly, the report urges international organizations to send volunteers to work in safe areas where wounded are sent for treatment especially after many death cases were documented where many patients died because of the limited medical resources.
 

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