Crimes against humanity "likely to have been committed" in Syria
Listen /
Navi Pillay
It is likely that crimes against humanity have been committed in Syria, UN Human Rights Chief Navi Pillay told the General Assembly on Monday.
More than 5,400 people have been killed in Syria since crackdowns on anti-government protests began last March.
More than 18,000 people are also in arbitrary detention.
Ms. Pillay gave ambassadors an update of the human rights situation in Syria, including in the besieged city of Homs which she characterized as "simply deplorable."
"The Fact Finding Mission, the Commission of Inquiry on Syria, and I myself have all concluded that crimes against humanity are likely to have been committed in Syria. I have encouraged the Security Council to refer the situation to the International Criminal Court. All member states must ensure that these crimes do not go unpunished. Yet these crimes continue to be committed as I speak." (Duration: 31″)
Ms. Pillay stated that the international community must act now to urgently protect the Syrian population as the government there has failed in its obligation to do so.
