Peace in Syria: Possibility or Fantasy?

May 11, 2022 - On the sidelines of the 6th Brussels Conference on Supporting the future of Syria and the region, Baytna and the Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR) co-organized a side event on May 6, 2022, bringing together leading members of Syrian civil society to explore their vision on required elements for sustainable peace in Syria.

Held in Brussels’ Residence Palace, the event was also live streamed to include the participation of many around the world, including in Syria, who were welcomed by Assaad Al Achi, Baytna’s Executive Director. Communications Manager Rime Allaf launched the panel discussion by asking: "This is the 10th international conference on Syria pledging support to the Syrian people. How many more must still be held before these pledges translate into actual change and a just peace?"

Four main themes were addressed by the panelists as requirements for achieving peace in the country, all from the perspective of the role civil society can play:

·       Justice and accountability, the tools available to reach them, including universal jurisdiction.

·       Economic recovery, moving from a war economy to a peace economy, mitigating the impact of sanctions, reviving production and the SME sector.

·       Rights and governance, the rights and guarantees needed to protect basic rights and civic space, and the possible degrees of decentralization.

·       Social cohesion and peacebuilding, addressing grievances, memory, and narrative, and equipping local mediators and peace actors.

These are some of the highlights of the discussion by the four panelists.

Fadel Abdul Ghani, Executive Director of SNHR:

"The recent 'amnesty' released only 200 from over 132,000 detainees. Even if the regime stops arbitrary detentions now and frees about 500 detainees a year (at the current rate of release), it will still need about 300 years to release all the prisoners.”

"Russia committed war crimes and crimes against humanity, resulting in zero sanctions from the European Union. Russia’s impunity in Syria has allowed it to expand to Ukraine."

Thuraya Hejazi, Economist at SWPM:

"Civil society always has a reliable role in any peaceful political solution; in launching reconstruction, in rebuilding trust with society, and in managing the expectations in the peace process."

"Under international supervision, we need a plan for all Syrian regions to overcome the pressures imposed by the de-facto forces, to achieve the peace economy as a more comprehensive case."

Mazen Gharibah, Executive Director of the Syrian British Council:

"For decades, Syria has been thirsty for a meaningful political participation, and in order to address this issue, we need some sort of decentralization."

"We need to have a national consensus and a real political desire from all political forces to achieve decentralization. Civil society will help establishing it as a tool for peace."

Salma Kahale, MENA Director at WILPF:

"We need to understand the local actors and their expertise, and to look towards their values. We also need to appreciate their political projects and agendas and acknowledge them as political actors."

"Civil society is independent, but it isn't neutral and it shouldn't be neutral. Thus, we need to understand the local actors' approach and perspectives, and how they do their work within their communities."