A/HRC/22/59 I. Introduction 1. The depth of the Syrian tragedy is poignantly reflected in the accounts of its victims. Their harrowing experiences of survival detail grave human rights violations, war crimes and crimes against humanity. The destructive dynamics of the civil war not only have an impact on the civilian population but are also tearing apart the country’s complex social fabric, jeopardizing future generations and undermining peace and security in the entire region. 2. In the present report, the independent international commission of inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic1 sets out its findings based on investigations conducted from 15 July 2012 to 15 January 2013. The report builds upon the periodic update released on 20 December 2012 and the oral statement presented by the chairperson at interactive dialogue of the Human Rights Council on 17 September, during its twenty-first session. 3. The Human Rights Council in its resolution 21/26 of 28 September 2012 extended the mandate originally established by the Council in its resolution S-17/1 of 23 August 2011. In extending the mandate, the Council requested the commission to investigate all massacres and to periodically update its findings, including by means of an assessment of casualty figures. 4. The present report should be read in conjunction with the previous reports of the commission (S-17/2/Add.1, A/HRC/19/69, A/HRC/21/50) with regard to the interpretation of its mandate and working methods, as well as its factual and legal findings concerning events in the Syrian Arab Republic between March 2011 and 15 July 2012. A. Challenges 5. Lack of physical access to the country undermined the commission’s ability to fulfil its mandate. Its access to Government officials and to members of the armed and security forces was limited. Victims and witnesses inside the country, especially those allegedly abused by anti-Government armed groups, could not be interviewed in person. 6. On 22 June 2012, the commission addressed a request to President Bashar Al Assad seeking access to undertake investigations within the Syrian Arab Republic. No response was received. Since October, repeated requests for meetings with the Permanent Representative of the Syrian Arab Republic in Geneva have been unsuccessful. The information received from the Government is reflected in the present report (see annex I). B. Methodology 7. The methodology employed was based on the standard practices of commissions of inquiry and human rights investigations, adapted to the above challenges.2 8. The commission relied primarily on first-hand accounts to corroborate incidents. Owing to a lack of access to the country, staff were deployed elsewhere in the region to collect first-hand accounts from refugees. The present report is based on 445 interviews 1 2 GE.13-10627 The commissioners are Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro (Chairperson), Karen Koning AbuZayd, Carla Del Ponte and Vitit Muntarbhorn. The latter two members joined the commission for the period of its current mandate. See A/HRC/21/50. 5