A/HRC/44/61
patients. Financial constraints and the absence of the rule of law throughout Idlib complicated
the ability of survivors to seek redress for violations.
108. The Commission continued to receive reports of parents engaging their daughters in
early marriage for “protection” concerns or to alleviate financial burdens further compounded
by the conflict. Interviewees, including health personnel, reported that girls as young as 13
were routinely being removed from school, and many had been subsequently married off,
including to older men. In displacement camps, medical staff described instances of young
girls with vaginal bleeding and serious health complications due to early or teenage
pregnancies.
IX. Recommendations
109. The Commission reiterates the recommendations made in previous reports, 75 in
particular its call on all parties to cease attacks on civilians and civilian objects.
110. Recalling and supporting the call of the Secretary-General and the Special Envoy
of the Secretary-General for Syria for a lasting ceasefire, especially in light of the
COVID-19 pandemic, the Commission recommends all parties to ensure the protection
of displaced persons wishing to return to their homes, including by preventing the
looting or destruction of civilian property; protecting the enjoyment on a nondiscriminatory basis of basic economic, social and cultural rights, such as health and
education; and guaranteeing respect for civil and political rights, including protection
from arbitrary detention.
111. The Commission further recommends that all parties and the international
community take measures to expand critical humanitarian aid to the long-suffering
civilian population in the north-west of the Syrian Arab Republic, including by securing
increased access to or presence in the area, in order to provide protection and
humanitarian assistance; ensuring effective access through both cross-line and crossborder modalities; and removing any obstacles to such aid, including those
unintentionally caused by sanctions with overly cumbersome humanitarian exemption
procedures.76
112. In light of its findings on violations in the present report, the Commission
reiterates its recommendations and the recommendations of the Secretary-General for
all Member States to continue seeking accountability, including through ensuring
effective legislation enabling the prosecution of individuals suspected of war crimes and
crimes against humanity in the Syrian Arab Republic; and through investing in related
investigative, judicial and prosecutorial infrastructure. 77 The Commission stands fully
ready to continue to assist Member States in this endeavour, in close cooperation with
the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism to Assist in the Investigation
and Prosecution of Persons Responsible for the Most Serious Crimes under
International Law Committed in the Syrian Arab Republic since March 2011.
75
76
77
20
Most recently A/HRC/43/57, paras. 100–103.
A/HRC/36/55, para. 90; A/HRC/39/54/Add.2, paras. 25–52; and A/HRC/39/65, para. 8.
See, for example, S/2020/366, para. 62; A/HRC/43/57, para. 103; and A/HRC/34/64, para. 109.
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