Syria should be refereed to the International Criminal Court for investigation of alleged atrocities against protesters,UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay has said. Pillay recommended Syria because a UN fact-finding commission report which noted that all its evidence supported a finding of "widespread and systematic violations" of human rights in the Arab nation. She has recommended that the "Human Rights Council should urge the Security Council to call for an immediate cessation of attacks against the civilian population,and to consider referring the situation in Syria to the ICC (International Criminal Court)." The 22-page report of the Fact-finding Mission on Syria found "a pattern of human rights violations that constitutes widespread or systematic attacks against the civilian population,which may amount to crimes against humanity". Pillay said Syria must immediately put an end to the "gross human rights violations,as well as allow immediate access for humanitarian workers to assist those in need and for OHCHR to conduct investigations into all abuses." The report,which covers events from 15 March to 15 July,was produced by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR),in response to a request by the Human Rights Council of the world body. The 13-member mission,headed by Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights Kyung-wha Kang,gathered corroborative eyewitness statements with respect to numerous summary executions,including 353 named victims,and describes the disproportionate use of force by Syrian military and security forces. Pillay will brief the 15-member Security Council later today on the situation in Syria,along with the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs,Valerie Amos.
