A/HRC/18/53 93. In particular, the High Commissioner recommends that the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic: (a) Put an immediate end to gross human rights violations, including the excessive use of force against demonstrators and the killing of protestors, torture and ill-treatment of detainees and enforced disappearances, and halt all violations of economic, social and cultural rights; (b) Take immediate steps to end impunity, including by abolishing legislation that grants security and intelligence personnel virtual immunity from prosecution; (c) Ensure the immediate and unconditional release of detainees held on the basis of their participation in peaceful demonstrations, and other political prisoners; (d) Ensure the safe and voluntary return of refugees and internally displaced persons to their areas of origin in the Syrian Arab Republic; (e) Allow safe and unrestricted access to international and national journalists to investigate and report on the situation in the Syrian Arab Republic, without hindrance; (f) Take immediate measures to ensure full and unhindered access for humanitarian workers to provide aid and assistance to those in need; (g) Allow OHCHR immediate access to the Syrian Arab Republic to conduct investigations into all human rights abuses, irrespective of alleged perpetrator, in the context of protests since mid-March 2011; (h) Invite the special procedures of the Human Rights Council, in particular the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, and the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, to visit the Syrian Arab Republic to monitor and report on the human rights situation. 94. The High Commissioner also recommends that the Human Rights Council: (a) Ensure that the situation of human rights in the Syrian Arab Republic remains on the agenda of the Council through the establishment of appropriate monitoring and investigating mechanisms, including the possibility of extending the mandate of the fact-finding mission, as well as through periodic reporting; (b) Urge the Syrian Arab Republic to cooperate with OHCHR and the special procedures, including by granting them unfettered access to the country; (c) Urge the Security Council to remain seized of and to address, in the strongest terms, the killing of peaceful protestors and other civilians in the Syrian Arab Republic through the use of excessive force and other grave human right violations, to call for an immediate cessation of attacks against the civilian population, and to consider referring the situation in the Syrian Arab Republic to the International Criminal Court. 95. The High Commissioner further recommends that the League of Arab States continue to be actively engaged in calling for concerted action for the protection of human rights in the Syrian Arab Republic. 25

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