A/HRC/18/53 D. Persecution 88. The mission received disturbing reports that many discriminatory and abusive remarks about religion and/or ethnicity were made during arrest and detention, and when detainees were tortured. 89. A number of towns and cities85 were blockaded by heavy artillery and military vehicles, including tanks and mortars, in violation of articles 10 and 11 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. Water tanks were targeted, leaving civilians without water. Restriction of movement was imposed on civilians in a highly disproportionate manner to any threat that may have existed. Those who left their homes to find food were often killed or injured, including children shot by snipers. People were stopped at checkpoints by security personnel, who would not allow them to pass, and subject them to physical and verbal abuse. In addition, power was cut off by the security forces while cities and towns were under siege, as were means of communication. Public hospitals were sometimes closed ahead of a military operation,86 or staff told the injured that there was no room.87 In other instances, public hospitals refused to treat injured victims, the doctors apparently being under threat from security forces or cooperating with them. People were forced to assemble makeshift hospitals that were unable to give adequate medical attention to victims.88 There were numerous instances of the targeting of civilians attempting to assist the wounded by moving them to safer areas or taking them to hospital. Ambulances or other vehicles used by demonstrators were also targeted. 90. Children have not only been targeted by security forces, but also repeatedly subject to the same human rights and criminal violations as adults, including torture, with no consideration for their vulnerable status. The fact that Syrian forces have tortured or killed children on several occasions – even targeted by snipers – in what are clearly not isolated incidents is a cause for grave concern. 91. Lastly, the mission received disturbing reports that many discriminatory and abusive remarks about religion and/or ethnicity were made to detainees. IV. Recommendations 92. Bearing in mind the findings of the mission, the response provided by the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic and the international community to date, and the ongoing situation on the ground, the High Commissioner recalls the fact that States unanimously agreed at the 2005 summit that each individual State has the responsibility to protect its population from crimes against humanity and other international crimes. This responsibility entails the prevention of such crimes, including their incitement, through appropriate and necessary means. When a State is manifestly failing to protect its population from serious international crimes, the international community has the responsibility to step in by taking protective action in a collective, timely and decisive manner. 85 86 87 88 24 Cities and towns under siege included Dar’a, Baniyas and Madaya. Such as in Ma’arrat an Nu’man. In one incident in Jisr Al Shughour, security forces said that they could “solve a space problem”, then proceeded to murder wounded civilians. Such as the makeshift hospital set up in the Omari Mosque in Dar’a.