A/HRC/21/50 I. Introduction 1. The present report is submitted pursuant to Human Rights Council resolution 19/22 of 23 March 2012, in which the Council extended the mandate of the independent international commission of inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic established by the Council in its resolution S-17/1 of 22 August 2011. 2. In the present report, the commission1 sets out its findings based on investigations conducted up until 20 July 2012. The report builds upon the commission‘s periodic updates released on 16 April and 24 May 2012, as well as the oral update presented by the commission to the Human Rights Council on 27 June 2012 (A/HRC/20/CRP.1). It also updates the findings of the commission‘s special inquiry into the events in Al-Houla, mandated by the Council in its resolution S-19/1 of 1 June 2012. 3. The present report should be read in conjunction with the commission‘s previous reports (A/HRC/S-17/2/Add.1 and A/HRC/19/69) with regard to the interpretation of its mandate and working methods, as well as its factual and legal findings concerning the events in the Syrian Arab Republic between March 2011 and 15 February 2012. A. Challenges 4. The commission faced a number of challenges. It was given a broad mandate — geographically, temporally and materially — to investigate all allegations of human rights violations committed in the country since March 2011. This meant conducting investigations in the context of a rapidly changing situation, which evolved into armed conflict. 5. Lack of physical access to the country also significantly hampered the commission‘s ability to fulfil its mandate. In particular, its access to Government officials and to members of the armed and security forces was negligible. Importantly, victims and witnesses inside the country, especially those allegedly abused by anti-Government armed groups, could not be interviewed in person. 6. The commission filed repeated requests to visit the country, including through notes verbales and letters dated 2 and 16 April, 1, 10 and 29 May, and 22 June 2012 (annex I), and meetings with the Permanent Representative of the Syrian Arab Republic in Geneva on 26 and 30 April and 18 and 21 June 2012. These efforts enabled the Chairperson to visit Damascus from 23 to 25 June to discuss with the authorities the commission‘s work, including the Al-Houla investigation. Details of the visit were reported by the commission in its oral update (A/HRC/20/CRP.1). The Government has yet to allow for in situ investigation by the commission. 7. During the commission‘s mandate, the Government shared a number of documents, including reports of investigations conducted by national authorities, as well as lists of casualties. Such information is reflected in the present report, where relevant. B. Methodology 8. The commission sought to adapt its methodology in view of the above challenges. While continuing efforts to reflect violations and abuses of human rights, irrespective of the 1 The Commissioners are Paulo Sergio Pinheiro (Chairperson) and Karen Koning AbuZayd. 5