This statement was made by Ms. Amneh Khoulani, Executive Director of the Adalaty Centre, at the United Nations Security Council Meeting on Syria on 17 June.
Madam President, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,
I am Amneh Khoulani, a human rights defender, survivor, and Executive Director of Adalaty.
Six years ago,[1] I sat in this very Council, facing representatives of the Assad regime — the same regime that arrested my brothers, Majd, Mohamad, and Abdulsattar, and executed them in detention centres, as it did with hundreds of thousands of Syrians.
At that time, I pleaded with the international community to deliver justice to the detainees and their families and gave voice to a people being systematically slaughtered in plain sight. Today, I return with a different feeling — one only a Syrian would know: a blend of grief and joy, of pain and hope. I first came to truly feel it when I first returned to Damascus after its liberation – just like millions of Syrians, I found myself in between mourning those we lost and finding solace in the thought that their sacrifices were not in vain.
For the first time, I am able to speak as a member of civil society without fear of arrest or torture in Syria — a Syria where we can continue to serve our people, this time from within, creating spaces for civil society to engage closely and openly with communities, without fear of being branded traitors, as was the case for decades.
None of this would have been possible without the immense sacrifices made by the Syrian people in all their diversity. Today, we have a homeland we fear for, not from; a country that stirs within us a true sense of belonging. It is a moment of pride, of hope, and of responsibility.
Excellencies,
For decades, Syrian women have faced legal, economic, and social injustice[2] — challenges made far worse by the war through detention,[3] torture,[4] killing,[5] and sexual violence.[6] Yet despite profound hardships, Syrian women have led the fight for justice: documenting violations, providing aid, and laying the foundations for peace. As such, they must be central to the transitional phase and have a pivotal role in Syria’s future.
Since liberation, women have begun to claim their rightful role in rebuilding Syria. Their presence in senior government positions marks important progress, but it is not enough. A significant gap remains between reality and aspiration, and we call for participation that genuinely reflects not only women’s sacrifices but also their agency, leadership, and deserved role at decision-making levels, both locally and nationally.
A few months ago, I travelled to Syria with a diverse group of women. Together, we drove across the country — to Daraa, Homs, Salamiyah, Sweida, and the Monastery of Mar Mousa — to connect with different communities and discuss our collective vision for the future of our country. We encountered a nation weary, and communities navigating a process of social and psychological recovery, at a delicate moment where hope and fear, determination and caution ebb and flow. Despite the pain and challenges, most remain optimistic, sensing better days ahead, while some are still wary of what lies ahead — a legitimate concern that calls for transparency and respect.
We also observed a wide range of views on the transitional period, which is a healthy sign. Despite persistent sectarian and ethnic tensions, some of the harshest legacies of the former regime, Syrians demonstrate a genuine determination to move beyond a painful past and a profound desire for peace and stability.
Today, the new Syrian government carries the responsibility of addressing this legacy by ensuring that all Syrians, from every background, actively participate in shaping the country’s future. We believe Syria must be rebuilt by its people, women and men alike, on the foundations of democracy, citizenship, equality, and respect for human rights for all, without discrimination, with inclusivity as a guiding principle at every stage, from national dialogue and the political process to justice and accountability measures.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Transitional justice in Syria is not a political luxury; it is a national and moral imperative essential for achieving civil peace. Accelerating the effective launch of the justice process is the only true guarantee of genuine and sustainable peace. There can be no peace without justice.
Two national bodies have recently been established: the National Commission for Transitional Justice and the National Commission for the Missing.[7]
In meetings with both bodies in Damascus, which I attended alongside activists, survivors, and victims’ families, participants strongly emphasised the need for independence of these bodies. There was also broad consensus on the critical importance of inclusive consultation with communities across all Syrian cities, the need for transparency with victims, survivors, and their families, and the integration of their vision into the core of the transitional justice process.
Participants also emphasised the need for close cooperation between these Syrian national bodies and international mechanisms, including the Independent Institution on Missing Persons (IIMP) and the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism (IIIM), to develop a clear roadmap and initiate implementation. Such cooperation must ensure that efforts are inclusive, credible, and consistent with international standards.
Madam President,
Syria is undergoing a comprehensive process of reconstruction, not only of its infrastructure but also of its society and collective psyche. The lifting of sanctions does not signal an end to the need for international support; quite the contrary. The previous regime left behind a shattered state, bereft of functioning institutions. Syria requires responsible international assistance that fully respects its independence.
During my recent visit, joy swept through the streets following the news of the lifting of sanctions,[8] even as Syrians remained fully aware that its effects would take time to materialize. For this reason, the international community, with the support of this Council, must act now to accelerate early recovery efforts. This includes financial and technical support for mine clearance, the removal of war debris, which continue to kill dozens of civilians,[9] as well as the restoration of essential services such as health, education, water, electricity, transport, and telecommunications. We are not seeking ready-made solutions. Rather, we call for the transfer of genuine expertise to assist Syria’s emerging institutions in managing this transitional phase effectively. Building robust institutions remains the sole guarantee of lasting stability, and the return of Syrian refugees to their homeland.
Excellencies,
To those countries that have stood steadfastly with the Syrian people throughout fourteen years of revolution, who have welcomed refugees and supported the lifting of sanctions, I extend my sincere gratitude for standing on the right side of history.
To those who aligned themselves with the other side, including some present in this chamber, I say: it is not too late to join us now, and to support a resilient people who refuse to accept defeat.
Accordingly, I urge the Security Council to:
- Promote and support the Syrian government to guarantee the full, equal, meaningful, and safe participation of women from all backgrounds in decision-making processes, both nationally and locally, aiming for a minimum representation of 30 percent.
- Promote and support the meaningful involvement of victims and survivors, particularly women, in all formal and informal transitional justice initiatives, recognizing them as rights-holders and essential contributors to peace and stabilization efforts.
- Encourage and support the Syrian government to implement effective measures to locate all missing persons, ensure the dignified return of remains without discrimination,[10] and foster technical cooperation with relevant international organizations to share expertise and establish robust mechanisms.
- Welcome the lifting of unilateral and multilateral sanctions previously imposed on the Assad regime, and call for a thorough review of measures enacted under Security Council Resolution 1267[11] that may impede Syria’s urgent economic recovery.
Excellencies,
Though scarred and tested, Syria stands today free and independent. We possess both the will and the capacity to shape our own future. What we need now is not mere support, but a genuine partnership that honors our sacrifices and respects a Syrian-led, Syrian-owned political transition.
As we confront the complex challenges of this transition, we hold fast to hope and work towards a homeland that embraces all its people. We call upon the world to stand with us, not only in support of Syria’s future but in affirmation of the fundamental values of humanity that bind us together.
Thank you. Long live a free Syria and its proud people.
__________
Photo: UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe
[1] S/PV.8593, 7 August 2019, https://docs.un.org/S/PV.8593.
[2] See Syrian Feminist Lobby, “Paper on the Principles of the Syrian Civil Family Law,” 10 December 2024, https://syrianfeministlobby.org/en/2024/03/05/paper-on-the-principles-of-the-syrian-civil-family-law-2/; WILPF, “The human rights of women in Syria: Between discriminatory law, patriarchal culture, and the exclusionary politics of the regime,” 2020, https://www.wilpf.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/The-human-rights-of-women-in-Syria-single-pages.pdf.
[3] Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic [hereinafter “Syria COI”], “‘Web of Agony’: Arbitrary Detention, Torture, and Ill-Treatment by former Government forces in the Syrian Arab Republic (Companion Report to A/HRC/46/55)”, ¶121-124, 27 January 2025, https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/documents/hrbodies/hrcouncil/sessions-regular/session58/A-HRC-58-CRP-3.pdf; Syrian Network for Human Rights, “Unshakable Voices: Syrian Women Who Overcame the Trauma of Detention and the Tribulations Following Their Release,” 19 February 2024, https://snhr.org/blog/2024/02/19/unshakable-voices-syrian-women-who-overcame-the-trauma-of-detention-and-the-tribulations-following-their-release/.
[4] Syria COI, “‘No End in Sight’: Torture and ill-treatment in the Syrian Arab Republic, 2020-2023,” ¶39-41, 10 July 2023, https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/documents/hrbodies/hrcouncil/coisyria/A-HRC-53-CRP5-Syria-Torture.pdf.
[5] Syrian Network for Human Rights, “On the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women: SNHR’s 13th Annual Report on Violations Against Females in Syria,” pp. 5-8, 25 November 2024, https://snhr.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/R241106E.pdf.
[6] Syria COI, “‘Web of Agony’: Arbitrary Detention, Torture, and Ill-Treatment by former Government forces in the Syrian Arab Republic (Companion Report to A/HRC/46/55)”, ¶274-290, 27 January 2025, https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/documents/hrbodies/hrcouncil/sessions-regular/session58/A-HRC-58-CRP-3.pdf; Syria COI, “Gendered Impact of the Conflict in the Syrian Arab Republic on Women and Girls,” pp. 5-9, 13-15, 12 June 2023, https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/documents/hrbodies/hrcouncil/coisyria/policypapersieges29aywar/2023-06-12-Gendered-impact-women-girls-%20Syria.pdf; Statement by Ms. Mariana Karkoutly at the UN Security Council Open Debate on Sexual Violence in Conflict, 13 April 2022, https://www.womenpeacesecurity.org/resource/statement-mariana-karkoutly-security-council-open-debate-sexual-violence-in-conflict; Syria COI, “‘I lost my dignity’: Sexual and gender-based violence in the Syrian Arab Republic,” 8 March 2018, https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/Documents/HRBodies/HRCouncil/CoISyria/A-HRC-37-CRP-3.pdf.
[7] OHCHR, “Türk says Syria commissions are integral steps for better future,” 19 May 2025, https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2025/05/turk-says-syria-commissions-are-integral-steps-better-future.
[8] US Department of the Treasury, “Treasury Issues Immediate Sanctions Relief for Syria,” 23 May 2025, https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sb0148.
[9] Human Rights Watch, “Syria: Landmines, Explosive Remains Harming Civilians,” 8 April 2025,” https://www.hrw.org/news/2025/04/08/syria-landmines-explosive-remnants-harming-civilians.
[10] Security Council Resolution 2474 (2019), https://docs.un.org/s/res/2474(2019).
[11] Security Council Resolution 1267 (1999), https://docs.un.org/s/res/1267(1999).