International humanitarian law and human rights violations in Syria

An overview of the current situation in Syria

Abstract

Question for this helpdesk report:

  • Provide a brief overview of the current situation with regard to international humanitarian law and human rights violations in Syria.

All parties involved in the Syrian conflict have carried out extensive violations of international humanitarian law and human rights. In particular, all parties are guilty of targeting civilians. Rape and sexual violence have been widely used as a weapon of war, notably by the government, ISIL and extremist groups. Reports by the International Independent Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic constitute the most definitive source of evidence about human rights violations in the Syrian conflict. Their findings are corroborated by reports by other human rights groups, e.g. Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, as well as media coverage of the conflict. The available evidence varied in the extent to which it differentiated between men, women and children.

Citation

Idris, I. (2017). International humanitarian law and human rights violations in Syria. K4D Helpdesk Report 127. Brighton, UK: Institute of Development Studies, 11pp

International humanitarian law and human rights violations in Syria

Published 5 June 2017