Syria – Addressing the issue of missing persons is a necessity for reconciliation, community recovery, and a test of the collective conscience

Kentana presented a briefing on the work of the institution, noting that the fate of the missing is not only a pivotal matter for families, but for the Syrian society as a whole.

She confirmed that “Addressing this issue is essential to achieving reconciliation and building sustainable peace. Supporting and participating families in clarifying the fate of the missing and their existence is indispensable for societal recovery.”.

She stated that after many years of grave violations of human rights and violent conflict, Syria stands in front of a new horizon, noting that “While the challenges are still enormous, new opportunities have emerged to search for tens of thousands of missing persons and start together to search for the truth.”.

Information role

The head of the independent institution stressed that the information is an essential element in the search for missing persons, adding: “This may seem intuitive, but it is one of the biggest challenges facing those looking for missing persons, not only in Syria, but at the world level. We are cooperating with national and international organizations to access, unify, exchange, or link this information.”.

She pointed out that the independent institution has started investigations into the missing children, who are forcibly disappeared by the previous regime, and the missing asylum seekers, and the committee is now working on collecting information that would enable other potential investigation lines, including the missing persons who disappeared by ISIS.

She stated that the Foundation is working to develop a comprehensive support strategy that takes into account the changing reality inside Syria and through the borders, and includes support for the establishment of a referral system that responds to the needs of families, adding: “We are working to reach every person who has a missing in Syria.”.

She said that the process of searching for missing persons must be under the leadership of Syria and with international support, indicating that “The search for missing persons in Syria is indeed a global endeavor. It exceeds the borders of Syria and regional actors who have already expressed their commitment. It relates to people of many nationalities.”.

“New Syria”

Kentana talked about “The emergence of a new Syria”Confirming that the independent institution is fully aware of this tremendous change and related challenges, saying: “We know that we must quickly adapt to this tremendous change. Time is the essence of the issue.”.

She stressed the importance of continuing to build confidence with all national stakeholders to develop local capabilities, with international support, with respect and cooperation, adding: “We must work in the field hand in hand with the Syrians.”.

She said: “If we succeed in this process – and I assure you that we will do our best to achieve this – we will be able to communicate the truth to the Syrians, and we will show the world that even in difficult moments we can provide concrete answers.”.

Pictures shocking the world

The United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution At the end of June 2023 to establish an independent institution, to clarify the fate of all missing persons in Syria and their existence, and to provide adequate support to victims, survivors and families of missing persons, in close cooperation and integration with all relevant actors.

The president of the association, Filimon Yang, said at the opening of the meeting “Pictures of families looking for their loved ones in prisons, hospitals, the sheep, etc., still shock the world”.

He added: “The plight of the missing persons in Syria and other regions represents a humanitarian necessity and moral responsibility that falls on all of us, and requires immediate and continuous attention from the international community. He succeeded every human vote that has disappeared, a life that was interrupted, and a family still suffers from searching for answers.”.

He stressed that this challenge not only faces Syria alone, “It is a test for our collective conscience, a test of our ability to restore names to numbers, restore stories instead of silence, and to ensure accountability above all.”.