The Syrian regime is being accused of targeting, torturing and capturing children, according to the United Nations' human rights chief.

The failure of the United Nations to agree on action against Syria's Assad regime has merely emboldened it to launch an "all-out assault to crush dissent with overwhelming force," the UN's high commissioner for human rights says.

Canada is welcoming a decision by the United Nations Human Rights Council that presses Sri Lanka to properly investigate alleged war crimes in connection with the country's two-and-a-half decade civil war.