A/HRC/20/37 United Nations General Assembly Distr.: General 22 June 2012 Original: English Human Rights Council Twentieth session Agenda items 2 and 4 Annual report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and reports of the Office of the High Commissioner and the Secretary-General Human rights situations that require the Council’s attention Situation of human rights in the Syrian Arab Republic: implementation of Human Rights Council resolution 19/22* Report of the Secretary-General Summary The present report reflects the status of implementation of Human Rights Council resolution 19/22 of 23 March 2012. It contains information on the recent developments on the ground up until 11 May 2012, a summary of the information submitted by the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic in several notes verbales addressed to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights during the reporting period, as well as information on measures and actions taken by relevant international stakeholders. Although a ceasefire brokered by the United Nations was announced on 12 April 2012, its implementation remained partial and fragile during the reporting period. Despite some improvements on the ground, violence and killings, including during armed clashes, through shelling and the use of explosive devices, continued throughout the Syrian Arab Republic, and the civilian population remained significantly insecure. There were credible reports of ongoing serious human rights violations. * GE.12-14401 Late submission.