On the occasion of the 33rd Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, No Peace Without Justice and the Euro-Syrian Democratic Forum on Wednesday convened a side event titled: “Syria: The United Nations Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process and civil society’s role in promoting justice and accountability.”
The meeting was co-sponsored by the Syrian Coalition as well as by the Governments of Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Liechtenstein, Netherlands, Qatar, UK, USA and the EU Delegation.
Panelists of the meeting, co-chaired by Niccolò Figà -Talamanca, Secretary General of No Peace Without Justice and Hussein Sabbagh, Secretary General of Euro-Syrian Democratic Forum, included Riyad Al-Najem from Hurras, a Syrian child protection network, Husam Alkatlaby from The Violations Documentation Center in Syria, Ola Aljoundi from Women Now for Development, and Diab Serrih from The Day After. Welcoming remarks were made by the UN permanent representative of Liechtenstein, UK, US, and Italy. Key speakers in the panel discussion were the UN permanent representatives of Qatar, Turkey and Belgium.
The event focused on the situation of children, young people and women, efforts to document the widespread violations committed in the last five years in Syria and ways to achieve justice and accountability for the victims of these crimes. The event aimed to raise awareness about the role the United Nations Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process can play in highlighting the importance of including the Syrian civil society community in the pursuit of a political solution in Syria.
Representatives of Syrian civil society organizations submitted a set of recommendations to the UPR the UN Human Rights Council will hold in October.
The event also discussed widespread violence against women, the impact of the ongoing war on children and young people, methodologies employed in documenting systematic violations against civilians, the importance of accountability and justice in making peace, and civilian protection.
A representative of the Syrian Network for Human Rights also talked in the panel discussion. (Source: Syrian Coalition)
