On Thursday, the United Nations’ highest court issued an interim order directing the Syrian government to “take all measures within its powers” to prevent torture. This order stems from a case brought forward by the Netherlands and Canada, accusing Damascus of an extensive campaign of torturing its own citizens over several years. The purpose of this interim order is to safeguard potential victims while the case, alleging Syria’s violation of the torture convention, progresses through the International Court of Justice—a process anticipated to extend over several years.
Joan E. Donoghue, the President of the court, stated that Damascus is instructed to “take all measures within its power to prevent acts of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.” Additionally, Syria is called upon to ensure that its officials and entities under its control do not engage in such acts. The court also directed Syria to take effective measures to preserve evidence related to the alleged acts within the scope of the convention against torture.
Canada and the Netherlands sought this court order last month, and Syria did not participate in the October hearing. It remains uncertain how Syria will respond to the court’s directives. The conflict in Syria, which began as peaceful protests against the government in 2011, evolved into a brutal civil war marked by widespread human rights abuses.
Human Rights Watch welcomed the ruling, emphasising the ongoing reality of systematic and widespread torture in Syria. The organisation called for the enforcement of the court’s order, characterising it as crucial for breaking the cycle of abuse and impunity that has persisted for over a decade. The court’s orders are legally binding, though compliance is not guaranteed, as demonstrated by previous cases. This development follows French judicial authorities issuing international arrest warrants for Syrian President Bashar Assad, his brother, and two army generals on charges of complicity in war crimes and crimes against humanity.
