A/RES/72/191 Situation of human rights in the Syrian Arab Republic detention centres referred to in the reports of the Commission of Inquiry, including, but not limited to, Branch 215, Branch 227, Branch 235, Branch 251, the Air Force Intelligence Investigation Branch at Mezzeh military airport and Sednaya prison, including the reported practice of mass hangings by the authorities, as well as the reported killing of detainees at military hospitals, including Tishreen and Harasta hospitals, Recalling the statements made by the Secretary-General, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the special procedures of the Human Rights Council that crimes against humanity and war crimes are likely to have been committed in the Syrian Arab Republic, noting the repeated encouragement by the High Commissioner for the Security Council to refer the situation to the International Criminal Court, and regretting that a draft resolution 30 was not adopted notwithstanding broad support from Member States, Expressing its deepest concern about the findings of the Commission of Inquiry and also the allegations contained in the evidence presented by “Caesar” in January 2014 regarding the torture and execution of persons incarcerated by the Syrian authorities, and underscoring the need for those allegations and similar evidence to be collected, examined and made available for future accountability efforts, Expressing concern that the implementation of Security Council resolutions 2139 (2014), 2165 (2014), 2191 (2014), 2254 (2015) of 18 December 2015, 2258 (2015), 2268 (2016) and 2286 (2016) remains largely unfulfilled, and noting the urgent need to strengthen efforts to address the humanitarian situation in the Syrian Arab Republic, including through protection of civilians and full, immediate, unimpeded and sustained humanitarian access, Recalling its commitment to Security Council resolutions 2170 (2014), 2178 (2014), and 2253 (2015) of 17 December 2015, Alarmed that more than 5.3 million refugees, including more than 3.8 million women and children, have been forced to flee the Syrian Arab Republic and that 13.6 million people in the Syrian Arab Republic, of whom 6.5 million are internally displaced, require urgent humanitarian assistance, which has resulted in an influx of Syrian refugees into neighbouring countries, other countries in the region and beyond, and alarmed at the risk the situation presents to regional and international stability, Expressing its profound indignation at the death of more than 17,000 children and the many more injured since the beginning of the peaceful protests in March 2011, and at all grave violations and abuses committed against children in contravention of applicable international law, such as their recruitment and use, killing and maiming, rape, kidnapping and abductions and attacks on schools and hospitals, as well as their arbitrary arrest, detention, torture, ill-treatment and their use as human shields, Expressing its deep appreciation for the significant efforts that have been made by neighbouring countries and other countries in the region to accommodate Syrians, while acknowledging the increasing financial, socioeconomic and political impact of the presence of large-scale refugee and displaced populations in those countries, notably in Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey, Iraq, Egypt and Libya, Underscoring the critical need to build conditions for the safe and voluntary return of refugees and internally displaced persons to their h ome areas and the rehabilitation of affected areas, in accordance with international law, including applicable provisions of the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees 31 and __________________ 30 31 4/12 S/2014/348. United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 189, No. 2545. 17-23188