A/HRC/42/51 8. Countless other Syrian women, men and children have endured persecution. In Idlib, for example, where Levant Liberation Organization (Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham) terrorists are operating, civilians continue to be unlawfully detained or kidnapped, and often, tortured for expressing political dissent. In government-controlled areas, civilians, including recent returnees, have been arbitrarily arrested and detained, harassed, mistreated and tortured. 9. While Syrians of all backgrounds have witnessed immense violence since the inception of the conflict, women, girls and boys remain disproportionally affected on multiple grounds. Syrian women are increasingly undertaking responsibilities beyond their traditional roles, while pre-established gender inequalities and the gendered harms that accompany them continue to undermine the enjoyment of their basic human rights. Furthermore, rapidly increasing instances of child marriage, child labour and forced recruitment serve as testimony to the negative coping mechanisms to alleviate the financial constraints. Access to civil documentation and birth registration also remain difficult, to the detriment of countless girls and boys countrywide, many of whom languish in camps for internally displaced persons without access to education. 10. Meanwhile, the scope and scale of arbitrary detentions, kidnappings and enforced disappearances, together with the destruction of vital infrastructure and the lack of effective service provision and civil documentation demonstrate that numerous challenges persist regarding the sustainable return of internally displaced persons and refugees (see A/HRC/40/70). To provide for the basic needs of returnees, support will be necessary for the rehabilitation of infrastructure. 11. In order to mitigate the most urgent protection gaps, government forces, armed groups and all parties to the conflict must facilitate unimpeded humanitarian access to civilians affected by fighting. Concerted, meaningful action must be taken by Member States, particularly those that provide support to the warring parties, as they bear a shared responsibility for the crimes committed against millions of Syrian women, men and children. III. Political and military developments 12. During the period under review, major military operations were limited mainly to two operational theatres, namely Idlib and Dayr al-Zawr Governorates. Elsewhere, countrywide insurgencies emerged, giving rise to general insecurity and low-intensity conflicts. Geopolitical tensions also continued and, in some situations, posed a threat to regional peace and security. 13. In Dayr al-Zawr, SDF with air support from the United States-led international coalition continued their campaign against the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). Beginning on 15 January, after clashes in Al-Susah, SDF pushed ISIL forces south along the Euphrates River Valley to its last stronghold of Baghuz. As the military campaign reached its final phase, tens of thousands of civilians, including ISIL fighters and their families, fled the front line through humanitarian corridors and were transferred by SDF to Al-Hol camp in Hasakah Governorate. On 23 March, the SDF general commander, Mazloum Abdi, proclaimed the end of the territorial rule of ISIL in the Syrian Arab Republic. 14. During the period under review, Idlib, northern Hama, Ladhiqiyah and western Aleppo Governorates were embroiled in military escalation and a surge of violence against civilians. Despite the establishment of a demilitarized zone along this axis, pro-government forces sought to oust the Levant Liberation Organization and affiliated armed groups from the area.3 3 4 On 10 January 2019, the Levant Liberation Organization signed a ceasefire agreement with the National Front for Liberation, which halted all hostilities and allowed the Levant Liberation Organization and its affiliated “Salvation Government” to bring areas previously held by National Front for Liberation under its administrative rule.