UN Human Rights Council calls for investigation into alleged abuses in Syria

Condemning the use of deadly violence against peaceful demonstrators and the "hindrance of access to medical treatment," the Council urged the Syrian Government to protect civilians and respect fundamental freedoms, including the freedom of expression and assembly.

It also called for the restoration of access to the Internet and other communication networks, the lifting of media censorship and to allow foreign journalists into the country.

In a resolution supported by 26 of the Council's 47 Member States, the Geneva-based panel requested that the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights dispatch a mission to Syria to investigate alleged violations. Nine Member States voted against the resolution, seven abstained and four were absent.

The Council "calls upon the Syrian Government to cooperate fully with and grant access to personnel from the mission dispatched by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights," the text said.

It deeply regretted the deaths of hundreds of people in the ongoing political protests and voiced grave concern over the alleged deliberate killings, arrests and incidents of torture of demonstrators by the Syrian authorities.

The Council called upon authorities to immediately free all prisoners of conscience and people arbitrarily detained, including those held before the recent events, and called for an end to intimidation, persecution and arbitrary arrests of lawyers, human rights defenders and journalists.

In addition, the Council urged the Syrian authorities to refrain from reprisals against people who have taken part in peaceful demonstrations, and stressed the need for credible and impartial investigation and prosecution of those responsible for attacks on the protesters.

It appealed to authorities to enlarge the scope of political participation to strengthen social justice and ensure civil liberties., the UN News Centre informs.

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