Accusations of Russia violating international law by intentionally bombing a hospital in northern Syria in 2019 have surfaced in a new complaint lodged at the United Nations Human Rights Committee.
The complaint, filed by a Syrian man and an aid organization, alleges that Russia’s Air Force caused the deaths of two civilians during airstrikes on the Kafr Nobol Surgical Hospital. While Russia denies such accusations, the complaint relies on various pieces of evidence, including videos, eyewitness testimonies, and audio recordings.
The Human Rights Committee, tasked with monitoring global political and civil rights, can consider individual complaints and potentially initiate investigations or compensation. Despite longstanding allegations of international law violations by both Syria and Russia, opportunities for accountability are limited, as neither country is a party to the International Criminal Court’s jurisdiction.
However, Russia’s acceptance of the Human Rights Committee’s authority under the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights enables such complaints to be reviewed. The filing of this complaint sheds light on the deliberate targeting of healthcare facilities in conflict zones, a violation of the laws of war, according to legal experts and human rights organizations.
