The Day After (TDA) and the Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR) have organized a side event on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly meetings via Zoom platform.
The discussion focused on the following questions:
– What is the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on arbitrarily detained persons in Syria, and how is it possible to pressure the Syrian regime and the other parties to the conflict to release the largest number of them, including the sick and the elderly? What types of support can be provided to survivors of arbitrary arrest, their families, and the families of the missing?
– Why have the Security Council and the international community more broadly struggled to address the plight of detainees and other victims of the Assad regime’s crimes against humanity in Syria?
– What are the most prominent accountability tools available, in addition to the sanctions to hold the Syrian regime accountable and to advance a political resolution of the conflict based upon UNSCR 2254?? What role can victims’ groups and Syrian human rights organizations play in this context?
Panelists were:
- Amb. James F. Jeffrey, Special Representative for Syria Engagement and Special Envoy to the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS, US Department of State
- Robert Rohde, Ambassador for the Negotiations on Syria and Head of Division for Syria, Iraq, Lebanon & Anti ISIS Strategy, German Federal Foreign Office
- Ivan M. Nielsen, Special Representative for the Syria Crisis, Denmark
- Rasha Sharbaji, Popular Uprising Activist and Former Political Detainee
- Mutasem Syoufi, Executive Director of The Day After (TDA)
- Fadel Abdulghany, Head of the Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR)
- Emma Beals, Senior Advisor at European Institute of Peace and Editor of Syria in Context.
The event was live streamed on social media platforms in Arabic and English. You can watch the recorded session in the video above.
