The Syrian Future Movement is following with great interest the announcement by the National Commission for Missing Persons of the signing of a joint declaration of principles for cooperation with the International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP), the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), and the International Independent Institute on Missing Persons (IIMP).
The Syrian Future Movement believes this step comes within the framework of strengthening national and international efforts to resolve the issue of missing persons in Syria, an issue that affects thousands of Syrian families and constitutes an essential part of the transitional justice process and building trust between citizens and the state during the transitional phase.
The Syrian Future Movement notes the statement made by Karla Quintana, Assistant Secretary-General and Chair of the International Independent Institute on Missing Persons (IIMP), regarding the possibility that some of the missing persons are still alive, which reinforces the urgent need for thorough field investigations. It is worth noting that there are persistent reports indicating that the former regime transferred some of the missing persons from their strongholds to unknown locations, making the speed and efficiency of investigations and documentation a pressing national necessity.
From this standpoint, the Syrian Future Movement calls for:
- The National Commission for Missing Persons to diligently follow up on the implementation of the principles of international cooperation and ensure the participation of civil society in oversight and monitoring.
- The Syrian Transitional Government to strengthen the legal and administrative support for the Commission and facilitate the work of international committees within the framework of state sovereignty and respect for citizens’ rights.
- The international community to continue providing technical and material support to ensure rapid progress in uncovering the fate of the missing and protecting their rights and the rights of their families.
- Ensuring the swift conduct of field investigations to determine the fate of missing persons who may still be alive, and utilizing available information regarding the transfer of some to unknown locations.
The Syrian Future Movement believes that this initiative represents a crucial step towards restoring confidence in state institutions and strengthening transitional justice.
