New UN team to collect evidence to bring Syria war crime to court

A new body is being set up at the United Nations in Geneva to prepare prosecutions of war crimes committed in Syria, according to officials

Syrians in the rebel-held neighbourhood of Hayy Aqyul in Aleppo after an airstrike
Syrians in the rebel-held neighbourhood of Hayy Aqyul in Aleppo after an airstrike

A new unit is being set up by the United Nations in Geneva to prepare prosecutions of war crimes committed in Syria, UN officials and diplomats said on Thursday.

The General Assembly voted to establish the mechanism in December and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is due to name a judge or prosecutor as its head this month.

The first major policy announcement under Guterres, the unit will “analyse information, organise and prepare files on the worst abuses that amount to international crimes  - primarily war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide - and identify those responsible”, a UN human rights official said.

Although it will not be able to prosecute, the unit will prepare files that could be used in future prosecutions by states or by the international criminal court in The Hague.

The focus on prosecutions also means evidence collected since 2011 by a UN commission of inquiry (COI) may be sharpened into legal action.

The COI has issued 20 reports accusing the Assad government, rebel forces and Islamic State of mass killings, rapes, disappearances and recruiting child soldiers.

Rights watchdog Amnesty International said last week the Syrian government executed up to 13,000 prisoners in mass hangings and carried out systematic torture at a military jail. Syria denied the report, calling "devoid of truth".

According to diplomats, the UN is aiming to recruit between 40 and 60 experts in investigations, prosecutions, the military and forensics. “It’s a very important step. It will not only allow court cases but also help us preserve evidence if there are cases in the future,” a senior western diplomat said.