International Court to Hear Case Against Syria for Torture Violations

The International Court of Justice will consider a request from the Netherlands and Canada on July 19 and 20 for it to issue orders to Syria to cease all acts of torture and arbitrary detention, in a case involving allegations of Syria violating the United Nations Convention Against Torture. The hearings will take place at the Peace Palace, the court's headquarters in The Hague, marking the first time an international court will examine alleged violations in Syria during the 12 years of conflict. The International Court of Justice can issue such orders in an attempt to ensure that the situation does not deteriorate during the lengthy process it typically takes to resolve the main case. This is the first time an international court has held a hearing in a case attempting to hold the Assad government responsible for grave human rights violations and torture. The International Court of Justice is the highest court affiliated with the United Nations. There have been criminal investigations pursuing some Syrian regime officials for acts of torture in cases brought under what is known as universal jurisdiction, particularly in Germany, but these cases focus on individual criminal responsibility. British lawyer Toby Cadman, who advises the Dutch government on this case, stated, "The situation here is different because (the case) holds the state accountable for the widespread torture." The ongoing Syrian civil war has resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands and the displacement of millions, with regional and global powers intervening.