UN expert urges Syria to comply with ICJ ruling to end torture

THE HAGUE — Following the urgent and temporary measures issued by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) last November, which mandated Syria to take all necessary actions to prevent acts of torture and other cruel or inhuman treatment, Alice Jill Edwards, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture and other forms of cruel or inhuman treatment or punishment, called on the Syrian government to implement these measures immediately.

Edwards highlighted that torture remains widespread in Syrian regime detention centers, disregarding the lives of thousands of individuals. This situation persists despite the ICJ’s clear directive to end torture without delay. Edwards noted that more than six months after the ICJ’s ruling, there is no indication that Syria is addressing the issue.

The ICJ’s temporary measures were issued in response to a joint request by Canada and the Netherlands, which brought the case against Syria, citing violations of the United Nations Convention against Torture.