A/HRC/19/69 also have allowed the commission to better appreciate the circumstances of human rights concerns and related human suffering. 8. After its first report, the commission interviewed additional victims and witnesses of violations, defectors and other individuals with relevant inside knowledge. From 9 to 25 January 2012, the commission travelled to several countries to gather first-hand testimony from people who had recently fled the Syrian Arab Republic.3 Additional interviews, including with victims and witnesses still in the country, journalists who recently visited the Syrian Arab Republic and individuals known to support the Government were conducted by telephone. After its initial report, the commission interviewed a further 136 victims and witnesses, bringing the total numbers of interviews conducted by the commission to 369. 9. The commission also examined photographs, video recordings and available Government documents. Satellite imagery of areas where military and security forces were deployed and related reported violations occurred, corroborated a number of witness accounts. The commission took into account the report of the observer mission of the League of Arab States of 22 January 2012 and also interviewed former observers of that mission. 10. With regard to the documentation of violations, the commission applied the standard of proof used in its first report.4 Particular incidents are described in the report if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they occurred, namely if the commission obtained a reliable body of evidence, consistent with other information, indicating their occurrence. The incidents discussed in the report were the subject of two or more consistent and reliable witness accounts, which were often supported by additional corroborating evidence. In exceptional cases, where credible sources reported relevant incidents but the commission was unable to corroborate them through eyewitness interviews, incidents were included and the source identified. The patterns described in the report are based on multiple documented incidents that are further corroborated by verified circumstances. 11. To obtain a general background on the situation and the diplomatic efforts to address it, the commission met with the permanent representatives of Member and observer States of the Human Rights Council from all regional groups. It also spoke with representatives of international and regional organizations, including the League of Arab States. 12. The report reflects information received as at 15 February 2012. 13. The commission did not apply international humanitarian law for the purposes of the report and the period covered.5 International humanitarian law is applicable if the situation can be qualified as an armed conflict, which depends on the intensity of the violence and the level of organization of participating parties. While the commission is gravely concerned that the violence in certain areas may have reached the requisite level of intensity, it was unable to verify that the Free Syrian Army (FSA), local groups identifying themselves as such or other anti-Government armed groups had reached the necessary level of organization.6 By the same token, the commission uses the term “FSA group” to refer to any local armed group whose members identify themselves as belonging to the FSA, without this necessarily implying that the group has been recognized by the FSA leadership or obeys the command of the FSA leadership abroad. 3 4 5 6 6 Places where interviews were conducted have been withheld to protect witnesses and victims. A/HRC/S-17/2/Add.1, paras. 5-6. Ibid., paras. 97-100. Ibid., paras.106-108.