A/HRC/18/53 Contents I. Introduction ............................................................................................................ Paragraphs Page 1–32 3 A. Background ................................................................................................... 1–7 3 B. Methodology ................................................................................................. 8–13 4 C. Legal framework ........................................................................................... 14–19 5 D. Context of protests: political and human rights background ......................... 20–27 6 E. Military and security forces implicated in human rights violation mid-March 2011 ............................................................................................. 28–32 8 ............................................................................................................... 33–68 10 A. Details of events since mid-March 2011 ....................................................... 34–63 10 B. Response of the Government ......................................................................... 64–68 18 Patterns of violations............................................................................................... 69–91 20 A. Murder and disappearances ............................................................................ 70–82 20 B. Torture ............................................................................................................ 83–84 22 C. Deprivation of liberty ..................................................................................... 85–87 23 D. Persecution ..................................................................................................... 88–91 24 Recommendations .................................................................................................. 92–95 24 Letter dated 15 July 2011 from the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights addressed to the Prime Minister of the Syrian Arab Republic ......................................................... 26 Note verbale dated 6 June 2011 from the Permanent Mission of the Syrian Arab Republic addressed to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights .................. 34 Note verbale dated 14 June 2011 from the Permanent Mission of the Syrian Arab Republic addressed to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights................... 38 Note verbale dated 27 June 2011 from the Permanent Mission of the Syrian Arab Republic addressed to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights ........................................ 45 Note verbale dated 5 August 2011 from the Permanent Mission of the Syrian Arab Republic addressed to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights ........................................ 52 Note verbale dated 16 August 2011 from the Permanent Mission of the Syrian Arab Republic addressed to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights................... 91 VII. Chronology ...................................................................................................................................... 118 VIII. Map of the Syrian Arab Republic .................................................................................................... 121 II. III. IV. Facts Annexes I. II. III. IV. V. VI. 2