A/HRC/20/37 I. Introduction 1. In its resolution 19/22, the Human Rights Council condemned in the strongest terms the sharply escalating widespread, systematic and gross violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms perpetrated by the authorities of the Syrian Arab Republic. In the resolution, the Council requested actions from the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic to put an immediate end to all violence and all human rights violations. It also requested that I present a report on the implementation of resolution 19/22 at its twentieth and twentyfirst sessions. The present report, which is submitted to the Council pursuant to that request, summarizes the recent developments on the ground up until 11 May 2012 and information submitted by the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic by means of notes verbales addressed to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) between 2 April and 7 May 2012. The report also contains information on actions taken by relevant international stakeholders, including the Security Council, the Joint Special Envoy of the United Nations and the League of Arab States, and other United Nations entities. II. Recent developments 2. On 16 February 2012, the General Assembly adopted resolution 66/253, in which it endorsed the Plan of Action of the League of Arab States of 2 November 2011 and the League’s decisions of 22 January and 12 February 2012. In that context, the Assembly requested me and other United Nations entities to support the efforts of the League of Arab States, including through the appointment of a special envoy to promote a peaceful solution, and through technical and material assistance. On 23 February 2012, in response to resolution 66/253, the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States and I announced the appointment of Kofi Annan as our Joint Special Envoy to help to resolve the Syrian crisis. The Security Council lent its support to the appointment in the statements made by the President of the Council on 21 March (S/PRST/2012/6) and 5 April 2012 (S/PRST/2012/10), and in resolutions 2042 and 2043 (2012) of 14 and 21 April 2012, respectively. 3. The mandate of the Joint Special Envoy is to use his good offices to bring an end to all violence and human rights violations and to promote a peaceful solution to the Syrian crisis, working with all relevant actors of the United Nations and the League of Arab States through consultations on the political, socio-economic, security and humanitarian situation in the Syrian Arab Republic. Since his appointment, the Envoy has engaged with the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic and the Syrian opposition, as well as with regional and international stakeholders, with a view to finding a peaceful solution to the crisis. 4. On 25 March 2012, the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic pledged to implement the six-point plan proposed by the Joint Special Envoy, which aimed at bringing an immediate end to all forms of violence by all parties, to protect civilians, obtain humanitarian access and facilitate an inclusive Syrian-led political process to address the legitimate aspirations and concerns of the Syrian people. In a communication addressed to the Envoy on 1 April 2012, the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic pledged to immediately cease troop movements, end the use of heavy weapons in population centres and begin to pull back military concentrations in and around population centres no later than 10 April 2012. Similar commitments to respect the cessation of violence were sought from anti-Government armed groups by the Envoy. While the ceasefire came into effect on 12 April 2012, it was not fully respected during the reporting period. 3