(MENAFN- Qatar News Agency) neva April 14 - UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay on Monday condemned the rampant use of torture in detention facilities across Syria by Government forces and some armed opposition groups. Pillay said in a statement Monday that the report draws on detailed testimony from victims and witnesses UNHCR reported. The paper describes a broad pattern of torture and ill-treatment against individuals in Government facilities. It also documents reports of torture by some armed groups. The analysis is based on interviews by the UN Human Rights Office with individuals who have spent time in detention facilities in Syria during the conflict. "Upon arrival at a detention facility detainees are routinely beaten and humiliated for several hours by the guards in what has come to be known as the 'reception party'" the paper states citing accounts of torture and ill-treatment by various components of the Government's security apparatus. "Men women and children have been routinely picked up from the street their homes and workplaces or arrested at Government-manned checkpoints" the paper states. "Many are activists-often students-as well as lawyers medical personnel and humanitarian workers and some just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time." Pillay stressed that international law unequivocally prohibits the use of torture at all times and under all circumstances. The High Commissioner also reiterated her request to the Government to allow regular and unannounced access to all detention facilities to impartial international observers including her office the Commission of Inquiry on Syria and relevant UN independent human rights experts to enable them to effectively monitor the situation
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.