The Syrian Future Movement followed with great interest the conclusion of a workshop organized by the International Center for Transitional Justice (ICTJ) in cooperation with seven leading Syrian civil society organizations, as part of the “Bridges of Truth” project. The five-day workshop aimed to train 14 participants from various Syrian regions to lead community dialogues on transitional justice in seven Syrian cities, with the participation of more than 130 people from diverse backgrounds.
The Syrian Future Movement, while appreciating these national and international efforts aimed at strengthening community dialogue, affirms the following:
First: Investing in local leadership is the shortest path to national reconciliation. Preparing a new generation of facilitators capable of managing complex and emotionally charged dialogues represents a genuine investment in local capabilities, which aligns with our vision that Syrian solutions must emerge from Syrian society itself.
We support the statements of workshop organizers, such as Nousha Kabwat, head of the Syria program at the International Center for Transitional Justice, that “this training is an investment in local leadership and in the possibility of achieving a future based on broader participation.”
Second: Community dialogue is a national and ethical responsibility, and training participants in nonviolent communication, mental health support, and dealing with traumatic memories is of paramount importance.
We believe this requires all parties working in this field to adhere to the highest ethical standards, such as informed consent and confidentiality, to ensure that traumas are not reproduced or divisions exacerbated.
Third: Integrating transitional justice into community dialogue is an absolute necessity. Participants’ discussions on transitional justice issues, such as truth-seeking, criminal accountability, reparations, and institutional reform, are at the heart of the transition process. This underscores the need for inclusive community dialogues that take this diversity into account and create a common ground for different narratives to intersect, as one participant pointed out.
The Syrian Future Movement warns against treating these dialogues as mere formalities or superficial procedures.
True reconciliation, as the participants discussed, is a long-term process based on acknowledging harm and accountability, along with providing guarantees to prevent a recurrence of what happened.
We also warn that neglecting the psychological aspects and the ongoing support for facilitators could lead to them experiencing significant emotional distress, a point emphasized in the workshop.
The Syrian Future Movement is following with grave concern the UN warnings about the decline in international funding for civil society organizations and national institutions in Syria.
It believes that these community initiatives, such as the “Bridges of Truth” project, are the backbone of transitional justice. Therefore, we strongly urge the international community to invest in and sustainably support these efforts, rather than merely praising them and then abandoning them, because the risk of losing evidence, eroding trust, and the disengagement of survivors is very real.
The Syrian Future Movement reiterates that transitional justice is a true test of the new Syria’s commitment to building a state of law and institutions.
We declare our full support for all national and international efforts aimed at strengthening societal dialogue and empowering Syrians to participate in shaping their future. We call on the Syrian government to engage seriously with these initiatives, provide a safe and supportive environment for them, work to pass the Transitional Justice Law before the next People’s Assembly, and allocate a sufficient budget to support the National Commission for Transitional Justice and the Commission for the Missing.
What has been achieved so far is just the beginning, not the end. The difference between success and failure is the difference between a successful path to justice and decades more of impunity.
