Side event on “Accountability and the Prospect of a Political Solution to the Conflict in Syria”

14th ASP to the ICC, The Hague, 25 November 2015

In the margins of the 14th Session of the International Criminal Court Assembly of States Parties, the Euro-Syrian Democratic Forum and No Peace Without Justice convened a Side Event on “Accountability and the Prospect of a Political Solution to the Conflict in Syria“, which was held on 25 November 2015 (from 13:15 to 14:45, Africa Room, World Forum, The Hague). The meeting was organised with the financial support of the European Union and co-sponsored by the Governments of Belgium, Canada, France, Italy, Liechtenstein, Netherlands, United Kingdom and the National Coalition of Syrian Revolution and Opposition Forces.

Panelists of the meeting, which was co-Chaired by Niccolò Figà-Talamanca, Secretary General No Peace Without Justice and Hussein Sabbagh, Secretary General of Euro-Syrian Democratic Forum, included Raheb Alwany, Human Rights Defender, Rami Nakhla, NPWJ Syria Project Coordinator, Ayman Ghojal, Human Rights Defender, Stephen Rapp, former US Ambassador for Global Criminal Justice, former SCSL Prosecutor.

The conflict in Syria has reached further peaks of brutality where human life, democratic values and cultural human heritage is destroyed daily. More importantly, international legality and the rule of law have been violated for five years in an attempt to establish the rule of the might. The lack of credible signals that there is an expectation of accountability for what is happening has created a situation where impunity is the norm, breeding extremism, terrorism and widespread violence.

Against this backdrop, this side event in the margins of the ICC Assembly of States Parties looked at the fundamental issue of redress for victims and accountability as an essential component of any political solution to the conflict in Syria, addressing some of the difficult questions that will arise. The meeting also served as a reminder that a lasting political solution to the Syrian war requires an inclusive and participatory process capable to ensure redress for all victims of violence, violations and  abuses  of  human  rights  and violations of international humanitarian law, irrespective of their ethnic, religious and political affiliation, and accountability mechanisms to foster national reconciliation, ensure no repetition, respect of international and humanitarian laws and the end of impunity.

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