The UN Committee Against Torture said on Friday it had received reports of massive human rights violations in Syria, including the detention and mutilation of children. “The committee has reviewed numerous, consistent and substantiated reports and information about widespread rights violations in the country,” the head of the panel Claudio Grossman said in a statement. “Of particular concern are reports referring to children who have suffered torture and mutilation while detained.” The committee has asked the Syrian government to provide a report by March 9 laying out the measures it is taking to ensure its obligations under the UN Convention Against Torture are being met.