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A/HRC/S-17/2/Add.1 8 26. United Nations treaty bodies and special procedures have raised a number of concerns with regard to serious violations of human rights in the Syrian Arab Republic in recent years. In 2010, the Committee against Torture expressed concern at the lack of judicial independence and arbitrary procedures that resulted in the systematic violation of the right to fair trials. The Committee also reported widespread, routine and consistent torture of prisoners in detention.6 In 2011, concerns were also raised with regard to the number of enforced disappearances by the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances.7 The widespread harassment of human rights defenders, including restrictions on their freedom of movement, violations of the freedom of expression and the right to assembly were also addressed by various treaty bodies. III. Events and human rights violations since March 2011 A. Sequence of events 27. In February 2011, limited protests broke out around issues such as rural poverty, corruption, freedom of expression, democratic rights and the release of political prisoners. Subsequent protests called for respect for human rights, and demanded far-reaching economic, legal and political reforms. By mid-March, peaceful protests erupted in Dar’a in response to the detention and torture of a group of children accused of painting anti-Government graffiti on public buildings. Following the suppression by State forces of peaceful protests, including firing at a funeral procession, civilian marches in support of Dar’a spread to a number of cities, including some suburbs of Al Ladhiqiyah, Baniyas, Damascus, Dayr Az Zawr, Homs, Hama and Idlib. 28. On 25 April, Syrian armed forces undertook the first wide-scale military operation in Dar’a. Since then, protests have continued across the country, with an increasingly violent response by State forces. Other major military operations were carried out in different locations. On 8 November, OHCHR estimated that at least 3,500 civilians had been killed by State forces since March 2011. Thousands are also reported to have been detained, tortured and ill-treated. Homs, Hama and Dar’a reportedly suffered the highest number of casualties. 29. Numerous defections from military and security forces have occurred since the onset of the protests, and have, by many accounts, increased in recent months. An unknown number of defectors have organized themselves into the “Free Syrian Army”, which has claimed responsibility for armed attacks against both military and security forces (although there is no reliable information on the size, structure, capability and operations of this body). Colonel Riad Al Asaad, who declared his defection in July, is said to be in charge of the Free Syrian Army. 30. From the start of the protests, the Government has claimed to be the target of attacks by armed gangs and terrorists, some of whom it accused of being funded by foreign sources. On 30 March 2011, in his national address, President Al Assad asserted that the Syrian Arab Republic was “facing a great conspiracy” at the hands of “imperialist forces”. He stated that conspirators had spread false information, incited sectarian tension and used violence. He contended that they were supported inside the country by media groups and others. 6 CAT/C/SYR/CO/1, paras. 7 and 12. 7 A/HRC/16/48