Death Toll Rises to 12 at Florida Nursing Home

By Sarah Purtill
Impunity Watch Reporter, North America

MIAMI, Florida – On September 10th, hurricane Irma tore through Florida, causing the Hollywood Hills Rehabilitation Center to lose some of its power. The home maintained some electricity, but lost the power to its air conditioning units when a tree knocked out a transformer. Three days after the hurricane hit, the nursing home called 911. Many of their patients had begun exhibiting cardiac arrest and respiratory failure. On September 13th, nearly 150 patients were evacuated. . Of the 150 patients that were evacuated on September 13th, a number of them were treated for heat-related issues.  As of September 18th, eight patients had died. That number has since risen to twelve.

Dolores Biamonte, 57, died September 28th according to a statement from the Broward County Medical Examiner’s Office. Biamonte was the youngest of the residents who died as a result of the heat exposure. Currently, the dead range in age from 57 – 99. Some of those who died had body temperatures that reached 109.9 degrees Fahrenheit. CNN obtained a video that showed one woman sitting naked in a hallway on what looks like a hospital bed next to fans and spot coolers.

Across the street from the home is one of the largest hospitals in Florida. Investigators want to know why so many patients died even though the hospital was only across the street. The twelve deaths at the Rehabilitation Center at Hollywood Hills are now being treated as part of a criminal investigation, according to Hollywood police spokesman, Miranda Grossman. Federal and State agencies are also conducting administrative investigations.

The Rehabilitation Center at Hollywood Hills is under investigation following the deaths of 12 residents from heat exposure after Hurricane Irma. Photo Courtesy of the Daily News.

Florida Governor Rick Scott’s office reported, even though the nursing home had multiple calls with state authorities, they never reported that the patients were in danger or needed to be evacuated.  That report also stated that the state advisors told the nursing home managers multiple times to call 911 if the patients were in danger or needed to be evacuated. The 159-page state report said that was “something [the nursing home] failed to do.”

The Governor said in a statement, “this facility is failing to take responsibility for the fact that they delayed calling 911 and made the decision not to evacuate their patients to one of the largest hospitals in Florida, which is directly across the street.” The nursing home said it is “fully cooperating with all authorities and regulators to assess what went wrong.” The nursing home has also expressed their sympathy for the families of those who died.

Several families have filed lawsuits. Pedro Franco, whose father, Miguel, died following Irma, said, “this is something that could have been prevented.” Franco is among those who filed a lawsuit against the nursing home. The lawsuit also alleges that the nursing home failed to provide proper care to Pedro’s mother, Cecilia Franco, who survived but was hospitalized in serious conditions.

The State Agency for Health Care Administration revoked the nursing home’s license and shut them down earlier this month. In addition, Governor Scott gave all Florida nursing homes and assisted living facilities sixty days to comply with news rules which require them to have generators that can provide backup power for up to four days.

For more information, please see:

CNN – Florida Nursing Home Death Toll Reaches 12 – 29 September 2017

Daily News – Death Toll Reaches 12 at Florida Nursing Home Left Without Power After Hurricane Irma – 29 September 2017

NBC News – Florida Nursing Home Death Toll Rises to Twelve After Hurricane Irma Knocked Out A/C – 29 September 2017

Time – 12th Person Dies After being Taken From Overheated Florida Nursing Home – 29 September 2017

CNN – Video Shows Naked Woman in Sweltering Nursing Home Where 8 Died – 16 September 2017

Damascus Center for Human Rights Studies: Majority of Syrian Victims Were Killed by US-Led Coalition’s Airstrikes and Russia’s Airstrikes During Jan-17 to Sep-17
Introduction and Background

Throughout March 15th, 2011 to September 30, 2017, the Damascus Center for Human Rights Studies (DCHRS) documented a provisional total of 151,269 casualties. 79% of those killed were civilians accumulating to 119,434 civilian victims. The remaining 21% belonged to one of the fighting factions. The number of documented children during the indicated period is 16,793 Children victims at a rate of 11% of the total victims. The documented number of women casualties is 11,786 at a rate of 8% of the total victims.

In September, 2014, the US-Led Coalition began its airstrikes assaults to eliminate ISIS’s spread in Syria. In addition, the Russian Federation intervened in the Syrian conflict on behalf of the Syrian regime in September, 2015. To this day, both the US-Led Coalition and Russian air force continue their indiscriminate airstrikes across Syria causing collateral damage of civilian casualties as this report indicates.

Number of Casualties Killed by US-Led Coalition’s Airstrikes and Russia’s Airstrikes Since They Began Attacks in Syria:

Throughout September, 2014 to September 30, 2017, the Damascus Center for Human Rights Studies (DCHRS) documented a provisional total of 2,282 casualties killed by the US-Led Coalition Airstrikes. Additionally, throughout September, 2015 to September 30, 2017, the Damascus Center for Human Rights Studies (DCHRS) documented a provisional total of 7,163 casualties killed by Russia’s airstrikes. The following chart indicates the number of victims killed by US-Led Coalition strikes and Russia’s strikes per month:


Number of Casualties Killed by US-Led Coalition’s Airstrikes and Russia’s Airstrikes Per Month During January, 2017 to the End of September, 2017:

Throughout January 01, 2017 to September 30, 2017, the Damascus Center for Human Rights Studies (DCHRS) documented a provisional total of 1,481 casualties killed by the US-Led Coalition Airstrikes. Additionally, throughout January 01, 2017 to September 30, 2017, the Damascus Center for Human Rights Studies (DCHRS) documented a provisional total of 904 casualties killed by Russia’s airstrikes. The following chart/table indicates the number of victims killed by US-Led Coalition strikes and Russia’s strikes per month. Correlation analysis of victims killed by US-Led Coalition’s strikes, and Russia’s strikes per month during January 1, 2017 to September 30, 2017 using the correlation coefficient formula: (r) =[ nΣxy – (Σx)(Σy) / Sqrt([nΣx2 – (Σx)2][nΣy2 – (Σy)2])] for two data sets resulted in r = -1. Subsequently the negative correlation coefficient demonstrates that for each month, if the number of victims killed by the US-Led Coalition strikes for that specific month increased, the number of the victims killed by Russia’s strikes decreased, and the vice versa is correct.


Number of Casualties Killed by US-Led Coalition’s Airstrikes and Russia’s Airstrikes Per Province During January, 2017 to the End of September, 2017:

The following chart shows the correlation between the number of victims killed per province by both; the US-Led Coalition airstrikes and Russia’s strikes, during January, 2017 till September, 2017. Using the correlation coefficient formula: (r) =[ nΣxy – (Σx)(Σy) / Sqrt([nΣx2 – (Σx)2][nΣy2 – (Σy)2])] for two data sets resulted in r = -0.160557222. Subsequently the negative correlation coefficient demonstrates that for each province, if the number of victims killed by the US-Led Coalition strikes for that specific province increased, the number of the victims killed by Russia’s strikes for that specific province decreased, and the vice versa is correct.

US-Led Coalition Strikes Casualties’ Analysis for the Period Jan, 2017 to Sep, 2017:

The following chart shows the number of victims killed by US-Led Coaltition airstrikes for the period January, 2017 to the end of the September, 2017, totalling to 1,481 victims.

Findings:

The chart presents the following indications:

  • An increase in the number of casualties towards the Beginning of Mar, 2017 and ending in August, 2017.
  • Casualties equal or greater than 100 were recorded in the following months: March 2017, April 2017, and May 2017, June 2017, July 2017, and August, 2017.
  • Casualties equal or greater than 200 were recorded in the following months: May 2017, June 2017, July 2017, August, 2017.

The below chart / table details the number of casualties killed by US-Led Coalition per Syrian provinces sorted descending. Only 9 provinces recorded causalities and they are: Ar-Raqqa, Der Ezzor, Homs, Aleppo, Idlib, Hama, Damascus & Suburbs, Al-Hasaka, and Daraa.

Findings:

The chart presents the following indications:

  • During Jan,17 to Sep, 2017, Ar-Raqqa province recorded the highest number of casualties killed by US-Led Coalition’s airstrikes accumulating to 1101 victims.
  • During the same period, the second province with the highest number of casualties was Der Ezzor with 227 victims.
  • DCHRS is unable to retrieve accurate count on casualties from ISIS combatants, terrorist groups, extremist factions, Syrian regime soldiers, or Assad’s allies, thus most of the documented victims were civilians with ratio of 99%.

Russia’s Strikes Casualties’ Analysis for the Period Jan, 2017 to Sep, 2017:

The following chart shows the number of victims killed by Russia’s airstrikes for the period January, 2017 to the end of the September, 2017, totaling to 904 victims.

Findings:

The chart presents the following indications:

  • An increase in the number of casualties towards the beginning of Jan, 2017 and ending in April, 2017. The number raises again during Sep, 2017.
  • Casualties equal or greater than 100 were recorded in the following months: Jan 2017, Feb 2017, March, 2017, April, 2017, and Sep 2017.
  • Casualties equal or greater than 200 were recorded in April, 2017.
 
The below chart details the number of casualties killed by Russia’s airstrikes per Syrian provinces, sorted descending. Only 8 provinces recorded causalities and they are: Idlib, Hama, Aleppo, Damascus & Suburbs, Der Ezzor, Ar-Raqqa, Homs, and Daraa.

Findings:

The chart presents the following indications:

  • During Jan,17 to Sep, 2017, Idlib province recorded the highest number of casualties killed by Russia’s airstrikes accumulating to 250 victims.
  • During the same period, the second province with the highest number of casualties was Hama with 186 victims.
  • DCHRS is unable to retrieve accurate count on casualties from ISIS combatants, terrorist groups, extremist factions, Syrian regime soldiers, or Assad’s allies, thus most of the documented victims were civilians with ratio of 99%.

Ratio of Victims Killed Out of Total Number of Casualties During Period Jan, 2017 to Sep, 2017:

Throughout January 1, 2017 to September 30, 2017, DCHRS documented a total of 1,481 casualties killed by the US-Led Coalition Airstrikes. In addition, throughout January 1, 2017 to September 30, 2017, the DCHRS documented a total of 904 casualties killed by Russia’s airstrikes. The remaining number is 4,705 for victims who were killed by other reasons of death. When dividing the above numbers by the total number of casualties documented during the same period, January, 2017 to the end of September, 2017, a ratio of 21% is victims killed by US-Led Col strikes, and a ratio of 13% is victims killed by Russia’s strikes. Whilst the 66% is casualties killed by different means or reasons of death. Therefore, from every 100 persons killed in Syria, 21 are killed by US-Led Coalition’s strikes, and 13 by Russia’s airstrikes.


Based on the above statistics and charts, the Damascus Center for Human Rights Studies (DCHRS) calls the international community to terminate the indiscriminate aggression of aerial aviation, which is designed specifically to target civilians deliberately. DCHRS condemns the constant aerial bombardment of the regime air forces, Russian air forces, and the US-Led Coalition’s forces for perpetrating crimes against humanity and war crimes against the Syrian civilians. DCHRS calls upon the US-Led Coalition Forces and the Russian Federation to target and aim precisely due to the loss of large number of civilians, who were killed as collateral damage. DCHRS commends any efforts or initiatives to establish a safe zone in Syria, which shall save many lives of civilians. Furthermore, Also, DCHRS denounces the continues failure of the UN Security Council to achieve mechanisms to end violence in Syria, and to account crime perpetrators to justice. Additionally, DCHRS urges the UN and the international community to implement the ceasefire agreement, the de-escalation zones agreement, and to create a no-fly zone that could prevent the deaths of many children, women, and civilians.

 

DCHRS, inspired by its main mission in documenting and monitoring human rights violation in Syria and as a member of the International Coalition for the Responsibility to Protect (ICRtoP), urges all the concerned organization to work on, referring the cases of these massacres, and the many other massacres perpetrated by the Syrian regime, to the I.C.C. and the specialized courts, holding the individuals responsible for these crimes accountable.

مقدمة وخلفية

مع بداية الثورة السورية وسقوط أول شهيد، بدأ مركز دمشق لدراسات حقوق الإنسان برنامج التوثيق وتسجيل الضحايا والمراقبة وجمع الأدلة. حيث و وَثقَّ مركز دمشق لدراسات حقوق الإنسان في الفترة الممتدة بين 15 أذار – مارس من العام 2011م حتى تاريخ 30 من شهر سبتمبر/أيلول من العام 2017م، ما مجموعه  151,269  ضحية، تم تسجيلهم بالاسم الثلاثي والثنائي، قرابة 79 % منهم كانوا مدنيين وعددهم 119,434 مدني، من بينهم وثق المركز 16,793 شهيداً من فئة الأطفال بنسبة قدرها 11%، و 11,786 امرأة من فئة النساء بنسبة قدرها 8% من العدد الكلي للقتلى، بلغت النسبة المتبقية وهي60% توثيق ما يقارب 88,913 رجلاً من فئة المدنيين.

في سبتمبر/أيلول 2014، بدأ التحالف الدولي بقيادة الولايات المتحدة هجماته الجوية للقضاء على انتشار تنظيم داعش في سوريا. وبالإضافة إلى ذلك، تدخل الاتحاد الروسي في النزاع السوري نيابة عن النظام السوري في سبتمبر/أيلول 2015. وحتى يومنا هذا، يواصل التحالف والقوات الجوية الروسية ضرباتهم الجوية العشوائية في أرجاء سوريا مما تسبب في خسائر للكثير من أرواح المدنيين كما يفصل هذا التقرير.

 

عدد القتلى الذين قتلوا جراء غارات التحالف الدولي والغارات الجوية الروسية:

خلال الفترة من أيلول / سبتمبر 2014 إلى 30 أيلول / سبتمبر2017، وثق مركز دمشق لدراسات حقوق الإنسان ما مجموعه 2,282 ضحية جلّهم من المدنيين، قتلوا جراء الغارات الجوية التي تقودها قوات التحالف الدولي .

بالإضافة إلى ذلك، قام مركز دمشق خلال شهر أيلول / سبتمبر 2015 وحتى 31 أيار/مايو 2017 بتوثيق ما مجموعه 7,163 ضحية قتلتوا بسبب الغارات الجوية الروسية.

ويبين الرسم البياني التالي عدد الضحايا الذين قتلوا بسبب ضربات التحالف بقيادة الولايات المتحدة وضربات روسيا خلال الفترة المذكورة أعلاه:

عند تحليل الترابط بين أعداد الضحايا الذين قتلوا بقصف التحالف الدولي وقصف الطيران الروسي بكل شهر خلال الفترة من 01 شهر يناير / كانون الثاني 2017 وحتى 30 أيلول / سبتمبر لعام 2017، وباستخدام معادلة معاملات الارتباط Correlation Coefficients، فإن معامل الارتباط r = -1، مما يعني أن معامل الارتباط سالب، أي أنه ارتباط عكسي تام، وبالتالي فكلما زاد عدد الضحايا الذين قتلوا في شهر معين على يد قصف التحالف الدولي، فإن ضحايا القصف الروسي يقل بشكل ملحوظ أو تام، والعكس صحيح، كلما زاد عدد ضحايا القصف الروسي بشهر، فإن ضحايا التحالف الدولي لذاك الشهر تحديداً يقل بشكل ملحوظ.

عدد القتلى الذين قتلوا جراء غارات التحالف الدولي والغارات الجوية الروسية لكل محافظة سورية منذ بدء يناير / كانون الثاني 2017 وحتى نهاية أيلول / سبتمبر لعام 2017:

عند تحليل الترابط بين أعداد الضحايا الذين قتلوا بقصف التحالف الدولي وقصف الطيران الروسي بكل محافظة سورية خلال الفترة من 01 شهر يناير / كانون الثاني 2017 وحتى 30 أيلول / سبتمبر لعام 2017، وباستخدام معادلة معاملات الإرتباط Correlation Coefficients فإن معامل الإرتباط r = -0.160557222 ، مما يعني أن معامل الإرتباط سالب، أي أنه ارتباط عكسي أقل من متوسط ، وبالتالي فكلما زاد عدد الضحايا الذين قتلوا في محافظة معينة على يد قصف التحالف الدولي، فإن ضحايا القصف الروسي يقل بشكل ملحوظ ولكن أقل من متوسط، والعكس صحيح، كلما زاد عدد ضحايا القصف الروسي بمحافظة سورية ما، فإن ضحايا التحالف الدولي لذات المحافظة تحديداً يقل بشكل جزئي.


تحليل إصابات غارات التحالف الدولي بقيادة الولايات المتحدة خلال 01 شهر يناير / كانون الثاني 2017 وحتى 30 أيلول / سبتمبر لعام 2017

يبين الرسم البياني التالي عدد الضحايا الذين قتلوا جراء الغارات الجوية التي شنتها الولايات المتحدة خلال الفترة من من 01 شهر يناير / كانون الثاني 2017 وحتى 30 أيلول / سبتمبر لعام 2017 والذين عددهم يقارب 1,481 ضحية.

ويعرض الرسم البياني المؤشرات التالية:

  • زيادة في عدد الإصابات منذ بداية من شهر مارس/آذار 2017 وحتى نهاية أغسطس/آب 2017.
  • سُجلت إصابات تساوي أو تزيد عن 100 حالة في الأشهر التالية: من بداية آذار/مارس 2017، وحتى نهاية أغسطس/آب 2017.
  • سُجلت إصابات تساوي أو تزيد عن 200 حالة في الأشهر التالية: من بداية مايو/أيار 2017 وحتى نهاية أغسطس/آب 2017.




يوضح الرسم البياني أدناه عدد الضحايا الذين قتلهم التحالف بقيادة الولايات المتحدة خلال 01 شهر يناير / كانون الثاني 2017 وحتى 30 أيلول / سبتمبر لعام 2017، لكل محافظة سورية، مرتبين نازليا في 9 محافظات فقط وهم: الرقة، دير الزور، حمص، حلب، إدلب، حماة، دمشق وريفها، الحسكة، درعا، ويعرض الرسم البياني المؤشرات التالية:

  • خلال 01 شهر يناير / كانون الثاني 2017 وحتى 30 أيلول / سبتمبر لعام 2017، تصدرت الرقة قوائم الشهداء الذين قضوا على يد غارات التحالف الدولي، وهم 1101 ضحية، وتلتها محافظة دير الزور ب 277 ضحية.
  • لا یستطیع المرکز أن يورد أعداد وأسماء القتلى من عناصر داعش أو أي جماعة إرهابية، ولا يستطيع توثيق جنود النظام السوري وحلفائه، فبالتالي فإن غالبية الضحايا الموثقين ونسبتهم 99% هم من فئة المدنیین.

تحليل إصابات الغارات الجوية الروسية بكل شهر خلال 01 شهر يناير / كانون الثاني 2017 وحتى 30 أيلول / سبتمبر لعام 2017

يبين الرسم البياني التالي عدد الضحايا الذين قتلوا بسبب الغارات الجوية الروسية للفترة من خلال 01 شهر يناير / كانون الثاني 2017 وحتى 30 أيلول / سبتمبر لعام 2017 وعددهم يقارب 904 ضحية.

ويعرض الرسم البياني المؤشرات التالية:

  • زيادة في عدد الإصابات خلال الأشهر من بداية يناير/ كانون لعام 2017 وحتى نهاية إبريل / نيسان 2017، يعود الرقم للزايدة خلال شهر سبتمبر/أيلول لعام 2017.
  • سُجلت إصابات تساوي أو تزيد عن 100 حالة في عام 2017 خلال الأشهر التالية: يناير/كانون الثاني، فبراير/شباط، مارس/آذار، إبريل/نيسان لعام 2017، وعاد ليزيد خلال شهر سبتمبر/أيلول لعام 2017.
  • سُجلت إصابات تساوي أو تزيد عن 200 حالة خلال شهر إبريل/نيسان لعام 2017.

يوضح الرسم البياني أدناه عدد الضحايا الذين قتلوا بسبب الضربات الجوية الروسية خلال 01 شهر يناير / كانون الثاني 2017 وحتى 30 أيلول / سبتمبر لعام 2017، لكل محافظة سورية، مرتبة تنازليا في 8 محافظات وهم: إدلب، حماة، حلب، دمشق وريفها، دير الزور، الرقة، حمص، ودرعا، ، حيث يعرض الرسم البياني المؤشرات التالية:

  • خلال 01 شهر يناير / كانون الثاني 2017 وحتى 30 أيلول / سبتمبر لعام 2017، تصدرت محافظة إدلب قوائم الضحايا ب 250 ضحية، تلتها محافظة حماة ب 186 ضحية.
  • لا یستطیع المرکز أن يورد أعداد وأسماء القتلى من عناصر داعش أو أي جماعة إرهابية، ولا يستطيع توثيق جنود النظام السوري وحلفائه، فبالتالي فإن غالبية الضحايا الموثقين ونسبتهم 99% هم من فئة المدنیین.

نسبة ضحايا القصف الروسي وقصف التحالف الدولي من إجمالي عدد الضحايا خلال 01 شهر يناير / كانون الثاني 2017 وحتى 30 أيلول / سبتمبر لعام 2017

خلال 01 شهر يناير / كانون الثاني 2017 وحتى 30 أيلول / سبتمبر لعام 2017، وثق المركز ما مجموعه 1,481 شخصا قتلوا جراء الغارات الجوية للتحالف الدولي، وبالإضافة إلى ذلك، وثق المركز خلال نفس الفترة ما مجموعه 904 شخصا قتلوا جراء الغارات الجوية الروسية.

وعند تقسيم الأرقام المذكورة أعلاه إلى إجمالي عدد الضحايا الذين وثقوا خلال الفترة خلال 01 شهر يناير / كانون الثاني 2017 وحتى 30 أيلول / سبتمبر لعام 2017، يتبين أن نسبة 21 ٪ هي ضحايا قتلوا من قبل ضربات التحالف بقيادة الولايات المتحدة، ونسبة 13 ٪ هي ضحايا قتلوا بسبب الضربات الروسية، والبقية 66% هي نسبة الضحية الذين قتلوا بطرق أو أسباب آخرى. لذلك، من كل 100 شخص قتلوا في سوريا هناك 21 شخص يقتلون على يد غارات التحالف بقيادة الولايات المتحدة، و 13 آخرون يلقون حتفهم من الغارات الجوية الروسية.

بناء على ما تقدم من إحصائيات، فإن مركز دمشق لدراسات حقوق الإنسان يناشد المجتمع الدولي بوضع حد للعدوان العشوائي المتمثل بالطيران الجوي الذي صمم خصيصاً ليستهدف المدنيين حيث بات يوقع في صفوفهم على نحو يومي ضحايا مستمرين. ويشير المركز إلى أن مبادرات إقامة منطقة آمنة في سوريا ستقي الكثير من أرواح المدنيين، كما يستنكر مركز دمشق قصف قوات النظام المدعومة بغطاء جوي روسي وقصف قوات التحالف الدولي لارتكابهم جرائم ضد الإنسانية وجرائم حرب عجز مجلس الأمن الدولي عن ردعها عبر إيجاد آلية ما للجم العنف والقتل الذي لم يتوقف ليوم واحد منذ بداية الثورة السورية وحتى نهاية شهر مايو/أيار من العام 2017، حيث تشهد الإحصاءات المذكورة أعلاه، ب 151,269 ضحية 79% منهم مدنيون.
وباعتبار مركز دمشق عضو في التحالف الدولي من أجل تطبيق مبدأ مسؤولية الحماية (ICRtoP)، يطالب المركز أيضاً بالسعي الحثيث لتحقيق العدالة الانتقالية في سوريا، عبر ضمان الإنصاف لكل الضحايا الأبرياء وإعلاء مبدأ المساءلة وعدم الإفلات من العقاب.

 

كما يعود المركز ليدعو مجلس الأمن الدولي والمنظمات ذات الصلة للاضطلاع بمسؤولياتهم وفقاً لمبادئ مسؤولية الحماية (R2P)، وعدم الوقوف موقف المتفرج على ما يحصل من انتهاكات في سوريا أضحت تطال البشر والحجر معاً.
DCHRS Documented 151,269 Victims Including 16,793 Children and 11,786 Women Since March 15, 2011
Throughout March 15th, 2011 to September 30, 2017, the Damascus Center for Human Rights Studies (DCHRS) documented a provisional total of 151,269 casualties. 79% of those killed were civilians accumulating to 119,434 civilian victims. The remaining 21% belonged to one of the fighting factions. The number of documented children during the indicated period is 16,793 Children victims at a rate of 11% of the total victims. The documented number of women casualties is 11,786 at a rate of 8% of the total victims.

The total number of combatants that DCHRS documented is approximately 31,835 casualties with a ratio of 21% of the total number of victims. Nevertheless, 19% is the ratio of women and children combined. Therefore, for every soldier killed, a child or a woman is killed, and about more than three civilians are also killed.

 

Based on the above statistics and charts, the Damascus Center for Human Rights Studies (DCHRS) calls the international community to terminate the indiscriminate aggression of aerial aviation, which is designed specifically to target civilians deliberately. DCHRS commends any efforts or initiatives to establish a safe zone in Syria, which shall save many lives of civilians. Furthermore, DCHRS condemns the constant aerial bombardment of the regime air forces, Russian air forces, and the U.S led coalition forces, for perpetrating crimes against humanity and war crimes against the Syrian Civilians. Also, DCHRS denounces the continues failure of the UN Security Council to achieve mechanisms to end violence in Syria, and to account crime perpetrators to justice. Additionally, DCHRS urges the UN and the international community to further implement the “Ceasefire” agreement, the “de-escalation zone” agreement, and to create a no-fly zone that could prevent the deaths of many children, women, and civilians.

 

DCHRS, inspired by its main mission in documenting and monitoring human rights violation in Syria and as a member of the  International Coalition for the Responsibility to Protect (ICRtoP), urges all the concerned organization to work on, referring the cases of these massacres, and the many other massacres perpetrated by the Syrian regime, to the I.C.C. and the specialized courts, holding the individuals responsible for these crimes accountable including Bashar Al-Assad as he is the chief-in-command of the army and the armed forces.
وَثقَّ مركز دمشق لدراسات حقوق الإنسان في الفترة الممتدة بين 15 أذار – مارس من العام 2011م حتى تاريخ 30 من شهر سبتمبر/أيلول من العام 2017م، ما مجموعه 151,269 ضحية، تم تسجيلهم بالاسم الثلاثي والثنائي، قرابة 79 % منهم كانوا مدنيين وعددهم 119,434 مدني، من بينهم وثق المركز 16,793 شهيداً من فئة الأطفال بنسبة قدرها 11%، و 11,786 امرأة من فئة النساء بنسبة قدرها 8% من العدد الكلي للقتلى، بلغت النسبة المتبقية وهي 60% توثيق ما يقارب 88,913 رجلاً من فئة المدنيين.

بلغ مجموع القتلى من العسكريين وفق الأرقام التي تمكن المركز من توثيقها ما يقارب 31,835  شخص. شكل العسكريون نسبة 21% من مجموع الضحايا الكلي، وهذا عدد يقارب مجموع عدد النساء والأطفال معاً ونسبتهم 19%، وبالتالي من كل عسكري يقتل، هناك طفل أو امرأة تقتل، و3 رجال من فئة المدنيين يلقون حتفهم.

 

بناء على ما تقدم من إحصائيات، فإن مركز دمشق لدراسات حقوق الإنسان يناشد المجتمع الدولي بوضع حد للعدوان العشوائي المتمثل بالطيران الجوي الذي صمم خصيصاً ليستهدف المدنيين حيث بات يوقع في صفوفهم على نحو يومي ضحايا مستمرين. ويشير المركز إلى أن مبادرات إقامة منطقة آمنة في سوريا ستقي الكثير من أرواح المدنيين، كما ينكر مركز دمشق قصف قوات النظام المدعومة بغطاء جوي روسي وقصف قوات التحالف الدولي لارتكابهم جرائم ضد الإنسانية وجرائم حرب عجز مجلس الأمن الدولي عن ردعها عبر إيجاد آلية ما للجم العنف والقتل الذي لم يتوقف ليوم واحد منذ بداية الثورة السورية وحتى نهاية شهر سبتمبر/أيلول من العام 2017 حيث تشهد الإحصاءات المذكورة أعلاه، بـ 151,269 ضحية 79% منهم مدنيون.

 

وباعتبار مركز دمشق عضو في التحالف الدولي من أجل تطبيق مبدأ مسؤولية الحماية (ICRtoP)، يطالب مركز دمشق أيضاً بالسعي الحثيث لتحقيق العدالة الانتقالية في سوريا، عبر ضمان الإنصاف لكل الضحايا الأبرياء وإعلاء مبدأ المساءلة وعدم الإفلات من العقاب.

 

كما يعود المركز ليدعو مجلس الأمن الدولي والمنظمات ذات الصلة للاضطلاع بمسؤولياتهم وفقاً لمبادئ مسؤولية الحماية (R2P)، وعدم الوقوف موقف المتفرج على ما يحصل من انتهاكات في سوريا أضحت تطال البشر والحجر معاً.

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New transitional justice system to prosecute war crimes in Colombia

By: Emily Green
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

BOGOTA, Colombia — Colombia’s new transitional justice system will bring justice to the country after 52 years of armed conflict with the revolutionary armed forces, FARC.  It will establish three courts, a truth commission, and special units to search for ties between state officials and illegal armed groups.

Colombian soldiers at parade in Bogota. Image Courtesy of The Conversation.

The purpose of this system is to bring what is called “restorative justice.” This method “seeks to empower victims of the conflict by facilitating testimonies and reparations from perpetrators, rather than doling out traditional punishments such as jail time.” It is designed to provide alternative and usually shorter sentences for war criminals by allowing them to turn themselves in, plead guilty, explain in detail their crimes, and work to make reparations to their victims. The goal is to get a full account of the atrocities from the five-decade-long armed conflict and provide closure to victims.

The crux of this initiative is the Special Jurisdiction for Peace, also known as the JEP. This will establish courts whose sole purpose is to investigate and try those who committed human rights violations during the conflict. It will be up to the judges in this tribunal to decide what cases they will and will not hear.

The draw for guilty parties to come forward is the alternative and lenient sentencing of the court. A person who admits a serious crime can receive a sentence of up to eight years in prison. This is far less than what would normally be imposed in a criminal court. With full cooperation, alternative sanctions can be granted as well. These sanctions may include confinement to a community with mandated community service or reparations to the victim in whatever way is asked.

The system aims to ensure that women and minorities are fully represented as magistrates, commissioners, and victims in the tribunal. This is crucial because of the disproportionate effect the conflict had on women. The tremendous amounts of sexual violence used as a weapon affected 800,000 sexual assault victims between 2010 and 2015.

JEP plans to prosecute only those who were directly involved in the political conflict. FARC provided the government with information listing its active members to serve as a basis. Members already arrested by the government prior to December 2016 will be eligible for the court as well.

One of the most prominent atrocities JEP will address is known as the “false positives” scandal. During the war, the defense minister began a policy of “cash-for-kills.” It awarded $1,500 to Colombian Army personnel who could prove they had made a “positive combat kill.” This policy led to the slaughter of some of Colombia’s most vulnerable citizens such as the mentally ill. They would be killed, photographed, and falsely presented as enemy combatants for the reward. One study determined that “the false positives scandal led to more than 5,763 extra-judicial executions between 2000 and 2010.”

Elections for JEP’s members occurred on September 26 and signify a positive step forward for this new justice system. The Selection Committee, made up of jurists and professionals from the United Nations and other entities, chose these members.

There is no doubt that this will be an uphill battle. There will be considerable budgetary and administrative problems to overcome, but this might be the only way for Colombia to move on from its violent past.

For further information, please see:

Colombiano – Today the names of the magistrates of the JEP are known – 26 September 2017

Colombia Reports – Everything you need to know about Colombia’s transitional justice system –  25 September 2017

La Republica – More than 100 women would enter the Special Jurisdiction for Peace – 25 September 2017

Semana – The JEP begins uphill – 23 September 2017 

The Conversation – Colombia struggles to deliver justice in army ‘cash-for-kills’ scandal – 18 September 2017

Afghan Refugee Children Die in Syria while Fighting for Iran

Matthew Sneed
Impunity Watch Reporter, The Middle East

TEHRAN, Iran – According to the Human Rights Watch, Iran has recruited children as young as 14 to fight in Syria. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), has been recruiting the teenagers to the Fatemyioun division. This division is made up of exclusively Afghan troops who fight with the government in Syria.

Afghan children who fought in Syria are buried in Iran. Photo courtesy of Human Rights Watch.

According to international law, military recruits must be at least 18 years olf and recruiting children under the age of 15 to participate in battle is a war crime. Researchers for Human Rights Watch looked at the photographs of tombstones in Iranian cemeteries and they identified eight children who reportedly fought and died in Syria. Five of those eight children are believed to have died at the age of fourteen. In addition, the phrase “defenders of the shrine” was written on seven of the eight tombstones. This is the saying the Iranian government uses for the fighters it sends to war.

It is believed that some children and volunteers lie about their age in order to enlist. Some believe it will prevent them being deported back to Afghanistan. Tara Sepehri Far, a Human Rights Watch Researcher, said “[w]e spoke to one person who fought as part of the Fatemiyoun Division and he said that he was able to receive a residency permit upon return.” She further stated that she does not believe that the children are intentionally recruited and, “[i]t’s more of a sloppiness that the authorities and recruiters don’t care enough to ask for proof of age.”

“Ali” a 29-year-old soldier in the Fatemyioun division, has said he has spoken with children who were 16 and 17 years old while they were training to go to Syria. He also discussed the lack of verification protocols before enlisting troops, “They never asked me to show any documentation, but they wanted to make sure we were Afghan nationals,” Ali told Human Rights Watch. “We had to be above the age 18 to be recruited, but they only asked for our age, not any documentation.”

Sarah Leah Witson, the Middle East director at Human Rights Watch called for Iran to end the practice of recruiting children. “Rather than preying on vulnerable immigrant and refugee children, the Iranian authorities should protect all children and hold those responsible for recruiting Afghan children to account.”

The civil war in Syria has now lasted six-and-a-half years, with both sides facing accusations of numerous human rights violations.

For more information please see:

Human Rights Watch – Iran: Afghan Children Recruited to Fight in Syria – 1, Oct. 2017

The New York Times – Afghan Teenagers Recruited in Iran to Fight in Syria, Group Says – 1, Oct. 2017

World Tribune – War crime? Iran said to recruit refugee Afghan children to fight in Syria – 1, Oct. 2017

Austria Criminalizes the Wearing of Burqas in Public

By Jenilyn Brhel
Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe

VIENNA, Austria – On Sunday, October 1st, Austria implemented a law prohibiting Muslim women from wearing Burqas in public.

Woman wearing a niqab. Photo courtesy of The Guardian.

The “Prohibition for the Covering of the Face” law, commonly known as the “Burqa Ban,” was approved in May of 2017 and implemented on October 1st. It prohibits women from wearing burqas and niqabs in public.

The decision to prohibit burqas comes at a time when anti-Muslim bigotry is at an all-time high, both in Europe and the United States. The law has thus far garnered strong support in the predominantly Catholic country, reflecting anti-Muslim attitudes.

Similar sentiments have become increasingly prevalent in other European countries. In the midst of elections in Germany in September, the anti-migrant Alternative for Germany party campaigned with posters featuring the slogan “Burqas? We prefer Bikinis.”

The upcoming national election in Austria is looking favorably to those who are campaigning on an anti-migrant message.

Five out of seven of those polled that support the law also said they will vote for the two parties that are linked to anti-Muslim rhetoric, the Freedom Party and the People’s Party.

Muslim women leaders are condemning the law, viewing the claim that it is intended to help women as insincere.

Carla Amina Baghajati, spokeswoman for the Austrian Islamic Religious Authority, criticized the law. “They believe that they are ‘freeing these women’ and that they’re taking action to secure the identity of Austria, but this is hypocritical as the idea of an open society is that everybody has the liberty to act and dress as they please as long as nobody else is harmed,” she said.

Activists and experts say that the ban violates religious rights and will only perpetuate the problem of Islamophobia.

Farid Hafez, a senior research fellow at Georgetown University’s Bridge Initiative, said that “Islamophobia is a problem in Austria as it is a problem and a challenge to democracy, human rights and religious freedom in many European countries today.”

Sebastian Kurz, Foreign Minister of Austria, said that the burqa “is not a religious symbol but a symbol for a counter-society.”

Those who defy the law and continue to cover their faces can be fined up to $175. Police are authorized to use force for anyone resisting the law.

Laws such as these are already in effect in France and Belgium. The Alternative for Germany is also calling for such measures.

The ban affects approximately 150 women.

For more information, please see:

The Guardian – Austria’s Full-Face Veil Ban is a Kneejerk Reaction to the Rise of the Far Right – 1 February 2017

USA Today – Austria Becomes Latest European Country to Ban Burqas – But Adds Clown Face Paint, Too – 27 September 2017

PBS – ‘Burqa Ban” Law Signals Rightward Political Turn in Austria – 30 September 2017

Aljazeera – Austria Face Veil Ban ‘Criminalizes’ Muslim Women – 1 October 2017

BBC – Austrian Ban on Full-Face Veil in Public Places Comes Into Force – 1 October 2017

New York Times – Austria’s ‘Burqa Ban’ Law Comes Into Force – 1 October 2017

Washington Post – ‘Burqa Ban’ Law Signals Rightward Political Turn in Austria – 1 October 2017