UN report highlights human rights violations against Syrian returnees
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – The United Nations (UN) Human Rights Office released on Tuesday a report detailing human rights violations faced by Syrian returnees.
According to the report, Syrians who had fled the war face “gross human rights violations and abuses,” upon returning to Syria.
The violations include arbitrary detention, torture and ill-treatment, sexual and gender-based violence, enforced disappearance and abduction.
The report pointed out that these violations were “perpetrated by the Government, de facto authorities and other armed groups across the country.”
“This report paints an alarming picture of the suffering of returnees, in particular women, amid the increasing number of deportations of Syrians from other countries,” said UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk.
“Those who wish to return and restart their lives in Syria must not be stigmatised, discriminated against or subjected to any sort of violence or abuse once back in their home country,” he said.
He added that “Those who remain in host countries must be treated according to international law, including the principle of non-refoulement.”
The report stressed, “the overall conditions in Syria do not permit safe, dignified and sustainable returns of Syrian refuges to their home country.”
It also called on all parties to the conflict to fully respect international humanitarian law and international human rights law.