On the occasion of the 31th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, No Peace Without Justice and the Nonviolent Radical Party, Transnational and Transparty (NRPTT), together with the Euro-Syrian Democratic Forum, convened a Side Event on “Syria: Five years seeking democracy and accountability”, which was held on Wednesday 16 March 2016 (from 13h00 to 15h00, Room XXIV, Palais des Nations, United Nations Office in Geneva). The meeting was co-sponsored by the Governments of Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Liechtenstein, Netherlands, Qatar, Turkey, United Kingdom, USA and the National Coalition of Syrian Revolution and Opposition Forces.

Panelists of the meeting, to be co-Chaired by Niccolò Figà-Talamanca, Secretary General No Peace Without Justice and Hussein Sabbagh, Secretary General of Euro-Syrian Democratic Forum, included Rami Nakhla, NPWJ Syria Project Coordinator, Salma Jalkhi, Women Now for Development, Fadel Abdul Ghany, Syrian Network for Human Rights, Farah Al Atassi, National Syrian Women’s Association, Gareth Bayley, UK Special Representative for Syria, Michael Ratney, US Special Envoy for Syria, Mouaffaq Nyrabia, Vice President, National Coalition of Syrian Revolution and Opposition Forces. Welcome remarks were made by H.E. Amb. Elisabeth Laurin, France Permanent Representative to the UN, H.E. Amb. Mark Matthews, UK Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN; H.E. Amb. Peter Matt, Liechtenstein Permanent Representative to the UN.

This side-event provided an opportunity for a chair-moderated debate where Syrian human rights leaders and democracy activists conveyed the priorities for peace from communities and civil society across Syria to the organised opposition and to the international community, as guarantors of the Intra-Syrian Geneva Talks. The discussion also aimed at addressing the impact on the ground of the declared cessation of hostilities, perspectives for accountability and redress for the victims as a basis for durable peace, the role of women in peace building and in Syrian political and civil society, and how documentation of past and current crimes can contribute to the negotiations.

This activity was implemented with the financial support of the European Commission.

Documentation:

• Final Report of the Side Event
• Flyer of the Side Event
• Program and concept note of the Side Event
• Visit the special page dedicated to NPWJ’s Syria Project on Justice and Accountability

For further information, please contact Gianluca Eramo (MENA Democracy program Coordinator) on geramo@npwj.org or Nicola Giovannini (Press & Public Affairs Coordinator) on ngiovannini@npwj.org or +32-2-548-3915.