13 June 2023
Syria’s disappeared constitute more than 100,000 people, with the Assad regime primarily responsible. Other armed and extremist groups, such as ISIS, have also used the practice as a weapon of war. For years, survivors of detention and families of the missing have tirelessly sought answers, and that is now closer than ever before: an unprecedented opportunity lies ahead.
A forthcoming vote at the UN General Assembly aims to establish an international institution dedicated to determining the fate of forcibly disappeared and detained persons in Syria.
Unearthing the fate and whereabouts of these individuals is a crucial stride toward achieving justice. The Syria Campaign has launched a petition, which you and thousands worldwide can sign and join tens of thousands of families of the missing in urging all 193 voting member states to vote YES to the creation of the institution.
The crucial vote on Syria’s disappeared is expected before June concludes. So act quickly, sign the petition and share it widely.
Driven by families and victims themselves, advocacy groups have tirelessly championed the establishment of an international institution. In a landmark report, the UN Secretary-General expressed support for their demands, highlighting the crucial role of family involvement. Numerous countries have voiced their backing, culminating in a group of UN member states drafting a resolution to create this unprecedented entity. This resolution necessitates a simple majority at the UN General Assembly, where all 193 voting members possess an equal say, and no state wields veto power.
This vote represents a beacon of hope for tens of thousands of families still awaiting news of their missing loved ones.
Join the campaign and add your signature to the petition.
Sign nowPhoto: Yasmen Almashan, a founding member of the Caesar Families Association, holding photos of her brothers. (Photo credit: Paul Wagner for the Syria Campaign)