PRESS CONFERENCE: Torture in Syria – Sweden’s Role in the Struggle Against Impunity

Torture, enforced disappearances, and extrajudicial killing of political opponents, journalists, and other civilians are just some of the grave human rights violations committed over the course of the civil war in Syria by all parties.

These grave crimes go almost entirely unpunished in Syria. But it is possible to hold those responsible accountable outside of Syria. In Sweden, the principle of universal jurisdiction could allow Swedish authorities to investigate and conduct judicial proceedings in relation to international crimes, such as torture.

In other European countries such as Germany and France, criminal complaints by Syrian torture survivors have contributed to arrest warrants against key figures within Assad’s torture system.

On 20 February, 2019, at 10 am, a press conference will be held at which we will announce how we intend to use legal means in Sweden to hold those responsible for egregious violations of human rights in Syria criminally accountable. The press conference will be in both Swedish and English, and take place in Stockholm at the Civil Rights Defenders head office at Sergels torg 12, on the 12th floor.

Read more here (Swedish).