OHCHR Briefing Notes
1) Syria
We are deeply alarmed at reports of a major military build-up and the increased threat to the population in the town of
Yabroud, an opposition-held area in the Qalamoun mountains of Syria. According to reports we have received from within
Syria, there have been numerous aerial attacks and shelling, along with a military build-up around the town suggesting a
major assault by land may be imminent. Electricity was totally cut off this past Wednesday. Field hospitals are
suffering serious shortages in medicine and medical supplies as scores of people, including civilians, reportedly
continue to require urgent treatment. We understand that there remains a large number of civilians in Yabroud, with some
estimates suggesting 40,000 to 50,000 people, and thousands have been fleeing over the last few days.
We remind the Government of Syria of its obligations under international human rights and international humanitarian law
to protect all persons who are not taking an active part in the hostilities, including civilians, members of armed
forces who have laid down their arms and those placed hors de combat by sickness, wounds, detention or any other cause.
Effective warning is required by international humanitarian law to give civilians an opportunity to leave areas that
will come under attack.
We are deeply concerned that the attack on Yabroud may follow the pattern of previous attacks on cities and towns across
Syria where government aerial bombardments were indiscriminate and disproportionate in violation of obligations under
international law and ensuing land incursions resulted in heavy civilian casualties. If the State does not take all
necessary precautions to ensure the safety of civilians, it risks committing grave violations of international
humanitarian law.
The High Commissioner this week renewed her call to the Security Council to refer the situation in Syria to the
International Criminal Court. She warned that civilians have paid and are continuing to pay the price for the lack of
consensus on Syria and the resulting inaction. Violations are continuing in full sight of the international community.
We are closely watching the situation unfold in Yabroud and urge all sides to respect their obligations under
international law.
We also echo the Secretary-General’s condemnation of the reported massacre in the village of Ma’an in Hama on 9
February. Perpetrators of this massacre, and all other crimes in Syria, must be held accountable.
2) Venezuela
We are deeply concerned about the escalation of violence, and in particular, the death of at least three people during
demonstrations in Caracas on Wednesday (12 February).
Thousands of people in big cities throughout Venezuela reportedly participated in protests against the detention of
student demonstrators earlier in the week, as well as against rising crime rates and increasing economic hardship in the
country. Yesterday, the Public Prosecutor reported that three people lost their lives, 66 were wounded and 69 detained,
as a result of various clashes during and after demonstrations.
We have also received worrying reports of intimidation of journalists, some of whom have had their equipment seized, as
well as reports that some local and international journalists were attacked while covering the protests. In addition,
some protestors have reportedly been detained and may be prosecuted on terrorism charges. It has also been reported that
some protesters, including minors, are being denied contact with family or lawyers.
The Regional Representative of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in South America has called on the Government of
Venezuela to ensure that the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and freedom of opinion and expression are
guaranteed, and that a prompt, full and impartial investigation into the killings and any act of excessive use of force
is undertaken. He also called for all detainees to be promptly brought before justice in order to decide on the
lawfulness of their detention or to order their release.
Perpetrators should be prosecuted and those found responsible for acts of violence, and in particular deaths, should be
sanctioned with appropriate penalties. We are especially concerned at reports of attacks on demonstrators by armed
groups acting with impunity. We are also concerned that this situation could trigger further outbreaks of violence and
that of cycle of violence may take place.
We call on all parties in Venezuela to engage in peaceful dialogue to find a way through this crisis.
3) Turkey
We are concerned that legislative amendments adopted by the Turkish parliament last week regulating use of the Internet
may lead to breaches of human rights, in particular the right to freedom of expression and opinion, and the right to
privacy. The amendments contained in Law no. 6518, adopted on 6 February, may allow Turkey’s telecommunications
authority (Telecommunications Communication Presidency) to block websites without first seeking a court order.
Law 6518 will also require Internet service providers to store data on web users' activities for two years and make it
available to the authorities upon request without a judicial order. In addition, Internet service providers face severe
penalties if they fail to remove content deemed to be illegal.
Even before the amendments, Law 5651, enacted in May 2007, placed broad restrictions on Internet use. Since the law came
into force, approximately 37,000 websites have reportedly been denied operation by court orders and administrative
blocking orders.
The law as it stands appears to be incompatible with Turkey’s international human rights obligations, in particular
those related to freedom of expression and the right to privacy. As the General Assembly has recently affirmed (November
2013), the same rights that people have offline must also be protected online.
Following its Universal Periodic Review before the Human Rights Council in 2010, Turkey accepted a recommendation to
"align all articles of the Penal Code and other laws with international standards, particularly with regard to freedom
of expression." We call on the authorities to review laws No.5651 and 6518 to bring them in line with international
human rights standards, in particular the rights to freedom of expression and opinion, and the right to privacy.
We also call on the authorities to ensure police forces do not resort to excessive use of force and other human rights
violations while discharging their duties during demonstrations. Acts of sporadic violence or other punishable acts
committed by some individuals in the context of peaceful protests should not be used by the authorities to deprive
others of their right to freedom of peaceful assembly.
ENDS