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HRC53: Council welcomes establishment of institution on the fate of disappeared, missing in Syria

During the Interactive dialogue with the Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic on 5 July 2023, civil society organisations, alongside the Commission of Inquiry and States, welcomed the establishment of an institution to reveal the fate of the disappeared and missing persons in Syria.

Following years of work by victims and their families, the Truth and Justice Charter welcomed the creation of an institution to reveal the fate of the missing in Syria. 

The Commission of Inquiry (CoI) also welcomed this important step and called on the Syrian government and other parties to cooperate with the mechanism. In its opening remarks, the CoI said ‘finally Syrian families are to be aided by an international body that can help clarify the scale of the problem and the whereabouts of tens of thousands missing loved ones, from all sides of the conflict, and provide support to victims and families while ensuring their full and meaningful participation’.

Several States, including Luxembourg, the pen holder of the resolution in the UNGA, spoke at the interactive dialogue to welcome the adoption of resolution A/77/L79 and stress the importance of the institution in working to achieve the families right to truth. 

Access here the written version of the statement.

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