The Media Digest of The Victims Support Project

After years of denial and deliberate neglect, the issue of the missing has entered a new stage with the beginning of the transition phase in Syria following the fall of the Assad regime. This issue has become one of the urgent priorities on the agenda of the provisional government, which has begun taking initial steps to acknowledge the rights of victims and their families by announcing the establishment of national bodies dedicated to the matter and involving some victims’ groups in formulating policies related to uncovering the truth and achieving justice.
In this phase, victims’ groups are working to document violations and ensure that the voices of victims are represented in both national and international forums. They are also pushing for the integration of transitional justice principles—chief among them the right to truth and accountability—into the national transitional justice programs. Furthermore, they call for guaranteeing reparations for victims and their families through moral and material compensation, as well as psychological and social support, contributing to the restoration of dignity and the prevention of future violations.
Despite these positive developments, the road to uncovering the truth and achieving comprehensive justice remains long. Many mass graves have yet to be discovered, security agency archives remain largely unopened, and families continue to suffer from a lack of information about their missing loved ones. In light of this, the role of victims’ groups remains pivotal—not only in advocating for rights but also in reconstruction—through active participation in shaping the future of a new Syria.

This document has been produced with the financial assistance of the European Union. The contents of this document are the sole responsibility of SCM and can under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of the European Union