Failure by the United Nations to take action on Syria has emboldened the regime of Bashar al-Assad to mount an all-out assault on his opponents, the United Nation's human rights chief has warned.

Navi Pillay said the situation in Homs, the focus of ongoing heavy attacks by Assad's security forces, was "deplorable". Speaking to the U.N. General Assembly in New York, Pillay said the Syrian government had "manifestly failed" to fulfill its obligation to protect its population.

The UN human rights commissioner, Navy Pillay, said the
Syrian government had manifestly failed to protect its
population. Photograph: Jason Decrow/AP

The Syrian Revolution General Commission reported that 37 people had been killed on Monday, including children.

Pillay said she had encouraged the U.N. Security Council to refer the situation to the international criminal court, though that would require the support of Assad's veto-wielding allies, Russia and China, and is thus unlikely to happen.

"I am very distressed that the continued ruthless repression and deliberate stirring of sectarian tensions might soon plunge Syria into civil war," she said. "The longer the international community fails to take action, the more the civilian population will suffer from countless atrocities."