A/HRC/RES/27/16 12. Expresses particular concern about the abduction, incommunicado detention and torture of human rights defenders by the Syrian authorities and armed opposition groups, and calls for their immediate and unconditional release; 13. Strongly condemns the intervention in the Syrian Arab Republic of all foreign terrorist fighters and those foreign combatants fighting on behalf of the regime, particularly militia groups from the region, and expresses deep concern that their involvement, and that of other militias like the shabbiha, further exacerbates the deteriorating human rights and humanitarian situation, which has a serious negative impact on the region; 14. Also strongly condemns the arbitrary arrest, detention, ill-treatment and torture of children by government forces for their or their relatives’ alleged support to opposition groups; 15. Demands that the Syrian authorities, the so-called Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant and all other groups halt the arbitrary detention of civilians, both Syrian and non-Syrian nationals, and release all civilians detained; 16. Also demands that the Syrian authorities end incommunicado detention and ensure that detention conditions are consistent with international law, and calls upon the Syrian authorities to publish a list of all detention facilities; 17. Condemns all violations and abuses committed against journalists and media activists, human rights defenders, humanitarian aid providers, and recognizes their role in documenting protests and human rights violations and abuses in the Syrian Arab Republic; 18. Strongly condemns the use of chemical weapons and all indiscriminate methods of warfare in the Syrian Arab Republic, which is prohibited under international law, and notes with grave concern the commission of inquiry’s finding that the Syrian authorities have repeatedly used chlorine gas as an illegal weapon, which constitutes a violation of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction and is prohibited under international law; 19. Notes the reporting of the commission of inquiry, including on the amount and type of crimes committed, in which it assesses that crimes against humanity and war crimes have been and continue to be committed in the territory of the Syrian Arab Republic; 20. Also notes that the International Criminal Court was established to help to end impunity for such crimes where the State is unwilling or unable to genuinely carry out investigations or prosecutions; 21. Emphasizes the need to ensure that all those responsible for violations of international humanitarian law or violations and abuses of human rights law are held to account through appropriate fair and independent domestic or international criminal justice mechanisms, and stresses the need to pursue practical steps towards this goal, noting the important role that the International Criminal Court can play in this regard; 22. Reaffirms that, in the context of an inclusive and credible dialogue, the Syrian people should determine the appropriate process and mechanisms to achieve justice, reconciliation, truth and accountability for gross violations and abuses of international law, as well as reparations and effective remedies for victims; 23. Also reaffirms its commitment to international efforts to find a political solution to the Syrian crisis that meets the legitimate aspirations of the Syrian people for a civil, democratic and pluralistic State, where all citizens are equal, regardless of gender, religion and ethnicity; 3