A United Nations commission of inquiry has accused the Syrian military and security forces of committing crimes against humanity including murder, torture and rape. Paulo Pinheiro served as chair of the U.N. inquiry.

Paulo Pinheiro, chairperson, independent commission of inquiry: “The commission has concluded based on its findings that members of the Syrian army and security force have committed crimes against humanity in their repression of a largely civilian population in the context of a peaceful protest movement. These crimes include murder, torture, rape and other forms of sexual violence of comparable gravity, imprisonment or other severe deprivation of liberty, which occur in different locations.”

The United Nations estimated Syrian security forces have killed at least 3,500 people, including 256 children, since the pro-democracy protests began. One soldier testified that he had defected after witnessing the shooting of a two-year-old girl by an officer who said that “he did not want her to grow into a demonstrator.”