Syrians’ Hopes for a Better Future Ride on Justice for the Disappeared, UN Human Rights Council Hears
Geneva, Switzerland (March 5, 2025) – At a session held today at the United Nations Human Rights Council, powerful voices underscored the critical importance of addressing the widespread issue of enforced disappearances in Syria. Speakers emphasized that achieving lasting peace and building a brighter future for the Syrian people are inextricably linked to ensuring justice, accountability, and answers for the countless families who have lost loved ones to this brutal practice.
The meeting highlighted the grim reality of the situation: for over a decade, tens of thousands of Syrians, men, women, and children, have been subjected to enforced disappearance, a violation of international human rights law that involves the deprivation of liberty by state agents or those acting with their acquiescence, followed by a refusal to acknowledge the deprivation of liberty or the whereabouts of the disappeared person.
Why is Addressing Enforced Disappearances Crucial for Syria’s Future?
Several key arguments were made during the session, underscoring the profound impact of enforced disappearances on Syrian society and its prospects for recovery:
- Healing Deep Wounds: The speakers emphasized that enforced disappearances leave deep scars on families and communities. Without answers and accountability, healing and reconciliation are impossible. The uncertainty and anguish experienced by families searching for their loved ones perpetuate trauma across generations and hinder the rebuilding of social trust.
- Establishing the Rule of Law: Addressing enforced disappearances is vital for re-establishing the rule of law in Syria. Impunity for perpetrators undermines the credibility of the state and erodes public confidence in the justice system. Bringing those responsible to justice is a crucial step in building a society where the rights of all citizens are respected and protected.
- Preventing Future Abuses: By holding perpetrators accountable and implementing preventive measures, the international community can help ensure that enforced disappearances are not repeated in the future. This includes reforming security forces, establishing independent monitoring mechanisms, and strengthening national laws and institutions.
- Truth and Reconciliation: Acknowledging the truth about what happened to the disappeared is essential for national reconciliation. This includes creating mechanisms for victims and their families to share their stories, documenting the extent of the disappearances, and preserving evidence for future prosecutions.
What Actions Were Called For?
The Human Rights Council session saw a range of recommendations put forward, targeting various actors involved in addressing the crisis of enforced disappearances in Syria:
- The Syrian Government: The government was urged to immediately cease all practices of enforced disappearance, release all those arbitrarily detained, and provide information about the fate and whereabouts of the disappeared. Crucially, calls were made for access to detention facilities by independent international observers.
- States with Influence: Those nations with influence over the Syrian government and other parties to the conflict were urged to exert pressure to ensure accountability for human rights violations. This includes imposing targeted sanctions on individuals and entities responsible for enforced disappearances.
- International Organizations: The UN Human Rights Council, the UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria, and other relevant international bodies were encouraged to continue their investigations into enforced disappearances and to collect and preserve evidence for future accountability efforts.
- Civil Society Organizations: Support for Syrian civil society organizations working on behalf of victims of enforced disappearances was also highlighted. These organizations play a vital role in providing legal assistance, documenting human rights violations, and advocating for justice.
- The Importance of DNA Database: Many participants emphasized the significance of DNA data collection from the relatives of the disappeared people. It would greatly help to recognize the body if it is found and give the chance to relatives to say goodbye to their beloved ones.
Related Information & Context
- UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria: Established in 2011, the Commission has documented widespread human rights violations, including enforced disappearances, and has repeatedly called for accountability.
- International Criminal Court (ICC): While Syria is not a party to the ICC Statute, there is ongoing debate about whether the Security Council could refer the situation in Syria to the ICC for investigation of war crimes and crimes against humanity, including enforced disappearances.
- Universal Jurisdiction: Some states have exercised universal jurisdiction to prosecute individuals suspected of committing crimes against humanity, including enforced disappearances, in Syria. This principle allows national courts to prosecute certain crimes, regardless of where they were committed or the nationality of the perpetrator or victim.
- The Caesar Files: The “Caesar” files, leaked photos documenting torture and deaths in Syrian government detention facilities, have provided further evidence of the scale and brutality of the abuses perpetrated.
Moving Forward
The Human Rights Council session served as a stark reminder that the issue of enforced disappearances in Syria remains a critical obstacle to peace and stability. While the challenges are immense, the international community has a moral and legal obligation to support efforts to ensure justice, accountability, and answers for the families of the disappeared. The future of Syria depends on it.
This article is based on the reported session held at the UN Human Rights Council and draws upon publicly available information about the situation in Syria. It aims to provide a clear and concise overview of the key issues discussed and the urgent need to address the ongoing crisis of enforced disappearances.
Syrians’ hopes for a better future depend on justice for the disappeared, Human Rights Council hears
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At 2025-03-05 12:00, ‘Syrians’ hopes for a better future depend on justice for the disappeared, Human Rights Council hears’ was published according to Top Stories. Please write a detailed article with related information in an easy-to-understand manner.
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