A/HRC/22/59
guarantees of non-recurrence.s These rights of victims are mirrored by corresponding
obligations of States.
The right to justice implies the right of a victim to assert his or her right in a judicial
process as well as accountability of the authors of serious crimes. Possible measures are
described in this non-paper. The right to reparation includes restitution, rehabilitation and
measures of satisfaction, such as medical care, return of property, memorials or public
apologies. The right to truth demands a clarification of the facts and the corresponding
responsibilities. Measures include truth commissions, investigation panels, documentation
of violations or the securing of archives. Guarantees of non-recurrence, finally, focuses on
the need to protect victims and the society at large from further violations by adopting
measures such as disarmament, demobilization, reintegration of former combatants,
institutional reforms or lustration and vetting.
Accordingly, it is crucial that any initiative to fight impunity in Syria is not limited to
judicial measures but is carried out with a view to ensure all the basic rights of victims
described above. International measures must be tailored to the potentially changing
situation with the view to contributing to a sustainable culture of accountability and rule of
law. They should strengthen national initiatives, ownership and institutions in order to reestablish civic trust and to create the basis for peace, justice, security and development at
the national level.
s
128
See in particular General Assembly Resolution A/RES/66/147 on Basic Principles and Guidelines on
the Right to a Remedy and Reparation for Victims of Gross Violations of International Human Rights
Law and Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law; Human Rights Council Resolution
A/HRC/RES/18/7 on the creation of a Special Rapporteur on the promotion of truth, justice,
reparation and guarantees of non-recurrence; E/CN.4/2005/102/Add.1 (2005) and United Nations
Commission on Human Rights Resolution 2005/66 “taking note with appreciation of this document”.
GE.13-10627
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