29 June 2023
A historic resolution was adopted by the UN General Assembly on 29 June to establish a new international institution to clarify the fate and whereabouts of the missing in Syria.
The vote followed years of victim and survivor-led advocacy and was supported by a majority of 83 member states.
The resolution was put forth by a cross-regional core-group consisting of Belgium, Albania, North Macedonia, The Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, Cabo Verde, with Luxembourg as the penholder.
The proposed entity, to be set up in the coming months under the auspices of the UN, constitutes a major step toward addressing Syria’s missing crisis. It will allow for more systematic and coordinated efforts to determine the fate of more than 100,000 missing persons. Moreover, it will provide much-needed support to victims, survivors and their families.
Fadwa Mahmood of Families For Freedom (a founding member of the Truth and Justice Charter) said:
“This institution is the first concrete step to address the missing plight that was entirely envisioned by the survivors and the families. It can play an important role in saving those forcibly disappeared persons who might still be alive.. Furthermore, it can help locate burial locations of those who are dead. As someone who is still waiting for news about her loved ones, this institution represents a glimmer of hope.”
The institution has been a long-standing demand of Syrian victims, survivors, and families of missing persons
Victim associations, as part of the Truth and Justice Charter network, first proposed creating such an institution in 2021, as part of a study they commissioned.
They have since spearheaded advocacy efforts that led to a groundbreaking report by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, in which he officially recommended the creation of the institution.
Both the UNSG report and related UNGA resolutions (1, 2) emphasise the need for a victim and survivor-centered approach. According to the resolution, the institution “…will have a structural element that ensures the full and meaningful participation and representation of victims, survivors and families of missing persons…” in its work. It will also “engage with women’s organizations and other civil society organizations in a regular and sustained manner.”
Further, the institution will build on previous efforts and coordinate with existing local and international actors to ensure complementarity.
Mariam Alhallak of Caesar Families Association (a founding member of the Truth and Justice Charter) said:
“We have waited for this moment for so long. We need to know the truth. Are [the missing] alive? If so, where are they? Are they dead? If so, then where were they buried? My only wish has been a dignified grave for my son’s remains. This international institution will help to ease our pain and lead us to the truth.”
While the creation of this institution represents significant progress, much work remains ahead.
Khalil Alhaj Saleh of Massar said:
“After the resolution, the focus should be on creating an efficient institution. Ensuring efficiency will depend on drafting terms of reference that reflect the vision of the victims, survivors, and families, and giving them a central role in the work of the institution. Additionally, the seniority of the institution’s leadership is very important. The more senior and experienced the leadership is, the more capable they are to deal with the complexity of the situation and the different actors involved.”
Background
Since the beginning of the Syrian conflict in 2011, at least 100,000 people have gone missing in Syria, constituting a major humanitarian crisis. This is as a result of arbitrary detention, enforced disappearance, and extrajudicial killing, and other serious human rights abuses. While the Syrian regime has been responsible for the majority of cases, other parties to the conflict have also weaponised enforced disappearance.
With the absence of a peace settlement and a political transition, the issue of the missing in Syria has been low on the international agenda.
Despite this, Syrian victims and their families have been working tirelessly to seek answers. In 2021, five victim, survivor and family associations joined forces and put forth the Truth and Justice Charter – a common vision for truth and justice. They have since expanded to 10 organisations.
Following advocacy efforts by the Charter members, a number of Syrian civil society and international bodies have recognised the urgent need to deal with the crisis of Syria’s missing. They include the UN Secretary General, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic, the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearance, the International Committee of the Red Cross and others.
Impunity Watch is part of a wide group of Syrian and international organisations providing support to Syria’s victims in their advocacy work.
About the Syrian Truth and Justice Charter
The Truth and Justice Charter was launched in February 2021 by five associations of Syrian Victims and their families: the Association of Detainees and Missing Persons of Sednaya Prison, the Caesar Families Association, the Coalition of Families of Persons Kidnapped by ISIS (Massar), Families for Freedom, and the Ta’afi Initiative.
The Charter expanded to 10 members in December 2022, and now includes the General Union of Internees and Detainees, Release Me, Hevdesti-Synergy Association for Victims, Adra Detainees Association and Families of Truth and Justice.
Find out more about the Truth and Justice Charter here.
Photo credit: Guido Neira/ The Syria Campaign/ Impunity Watch