UN Calls for Comprehensive Approach to Transitional Justice in Syria

ARK News.. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has called for a comprehensive approach to transitional justice in Syria, emphasizing that the Syrian people now have an unprecedented opportunity to achieve peace.

Speaking at an event during the 58th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, Volker Turk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, stated:

"Transitional justice confronts the demons of the past to build a better future. It helps mend the institutional and social fabric of fractured societies."

He stressed that transitional justice is primarily about victims, dignity, and recovery.

Turk’s report to the Human Rights Council on Syria outlines strong practices for achieving transitional justice, which, he noted, should serve as an inspiration and a pathway toward sustainable peace in other regions.

However, he acknowledged that the road to peace is never easy and that transitional justice efforts are often hindered by political manipulation, selective or discriminatory approaches, lack of public support, and weak state institutions.

He emphasized that civil society, including grassroots organizations, is key to overcoming these challenges and encouraged UN member states to work closely with victims’ organizations and civil society groups to provide long-term support and protection.

Turk also warned against failing to build and sustain peace, stating that neglecting justice and ignoring victims could reignite old conflicts or spark new ones.

Highlighting the historic opportunity facing Syria, he noted that after more than 50 years of dictatorship and nearly 14 years of devastating war, the Syrian people have a chance to shape a new future.

For sustainable peace, Turk underscored the need for a comprehensive approach to transitional justice, incorporating:
✅ Accountability
✅ Truth-seeking
✅ Reparations
✅ Institutional reforms to prevent future violations.

283