169 Syrian Civil Society Organisations Urge for Political Transition to Remain focus of Geneva Talks
[4 August 2017] In August 02 letter to UN Special Envoy Staffan De Mistura, 169 Syrian civil society organisations and activists highlight the failure of the Geneva process to deliver tangible progress and relief for Syrians, urging the UN to ensure a credible negotiated end to the conflict remains an utmost and urgent priority.
Recent rounds of UN-led Geneva talks have been seriously undermined by a focus on process over substance, the damaging influence of international actors, and a lack of political will to advance the process – yet the suffering in Syria continues.
“Sadly, the Geneva process has delivered neither peace nor protection to the Syrian people who are increasingly disillusioned with a process that continues to fail them. We are keen to reverse this trend as without the support of Syrian civil society no political deal will be either sustainable or legitimate, and right now the current process is losing our support. Syrian civil society’s priority is to achieve an inclusive transition to a free and democratic Syria,” the signatories state.
The 169 Syrian civil society organisations and activists call on UN Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura to:
- Ensure that the Geneva process serves the interests of Syrians, first and foremost, and is not driven entirely by international actors. This requires a re-focus of the Geneva talks onto transition, as per UNSCR 2254.
- Draw from the legitimacy and unique contribution of Syrian civil society to ensure a sustainable political agreement for Syria. This includes using civil society’s expertise on the four baskets to unlock progress in the talks and move to concrete discussions towards transition. Only Syrian civil society can create the broad buy-in from the ground for any political agreement.
- Demand the enforcement of UNSCRs that call for the protection of civilians to make the Geneva process viable. To do so, we urge you to press the parties to the conflict and especially the backers of the Syrian regime to enforce a sustainable nationwide ceasefire with a UN-led monitoring mechanism and credible enforcement.
- Ensure that concrete progress on humanitarian access, the detainee file and forced displacement is at the heart of the Geneva negotiations. In particular, we call on you to fulfil your mandate and ensure progress on the detainee file including by securing (i) a comprehensive plan for the release of detainees beyond small-scale prisoner exchanges; (ii) information about the fates of all Syrians forcibly disappeared; (iii) access by international monitors to all detention facilities; and (iv) a halt to execution orders, particularly in regime security and military facilities, as well as in those run by armed groups.
Below you can find the full letter and the list of signatories:
Mr. Staffan de Mistura
United Nations Special Envoy for Syria
CC:
UN Secretary General
Members of the UN Security Council
Envoys of the International Syria Support Group
EU Ambassadors to the Political and Security Committee
2 August
Your Excellency,
Following the seventh round of peace negotiations, we write to you on behalf of the undersigned Syrian civil society organisations who work every day under unbearable circumstances to improve the living conditions of millions of Syrians. We represent the voices from the ground and our work across the country in the fields of medical and humanitarian assistance, education, freedom of expression, youth and women empowerment, and accountability and justice proves again the fundamental role Syrian civil society plays as a champion for a democratic and inclusive Syria.
As a vital resource for the Syrian population trapped between a tyrannical regime and the brutality of extremism, Syrian civil society organisations strongly support any efforts to bring an end to the Syria conflict. This is why many of our representatives have participated in the intra-Syrian peace talks within the framework of the Civil Society Support Room and have been active in supporting the Geneva peace talks between the Syrian opposition and the Syrian regime.
Sadly, the Geneva process has delivered neither peace nor protection to the Syrian people who are increasingly disillusioned with a process that continues to fail them. We are keen to reverse this trend as without the support of Syrian civil society no political deal will be either sustainable or legitimate, and right now the current process is losing our support. Syrian civil society’s priority is to achieve an inclusive transition to a free and democratic Syria. We are all united around this outcome which defines the basis of the Geneva peace process as set out by UN Security Council Resolution 2254 and as reiterated in your mandate as UN Special Envoy for Syria.
We expect all parties in Geneva – including you – to work for this purpose and engage in serious negotiations. The time consumed on discussions around process and representation, at the expense of a credible and realistic political deal for transition toward democracy, is not only wasting precious time but it is also undermining the international community’s efforts to fight terrorism in Syria. Syrian civil society activities are essential in the fight against extremism. Moderate voices – as we represent – have the power to push back against the extremist forces and fill the vacuum on the ground. But to be able to do so, we need the international community to protect our ability to assist and serve our people. This is why we need the Geneva process to prioritise the protection of civilians and deliver meaningful negotiations that lead to peace for Syria.
From the onset of the Geneva talks we have pressed for an active role in shaping the process given our links to the ground. As a result we continue to welcome efforts by the Syrian opposition to broaden its membership as long as it shares our purpose of achieving a political transition that is in compliance with international humanitarian law. But many members of civil society are troubled by Russia’s attempts to dictate who sits around the negotiation table. For the Geneva process to be truly inclusive and Syrian-led it must serve the Syrian people’s aspirations first and foremost for a transition towards a democratic and free Syria. Allowing the priorities and direction of the process to be shaped by international actors has only weakened the process and diverted it from its central function.
As Syrian civil society representatives, we therefore call on you to:
- Re-focus the discussions of the Geneva talks as per UNSCR 2254. The international community, including the Permanent five members of the Security Council, have confirmed the principal aim of the Geneva process is transition. To achieve this aim we call on you to use your authority to effectively hold to account any party at the negotiations that continues to stall and undermine the Geneva process.
- Draw from the legitimacy and unique contribution of Syrian civil society to ensure a sustainable political agreement for Syria. This includes using civil society’s expertise on the four baskets to unlock progress in the talks and move to concrete discussions towards transition. Only Syrian civil society can create the broad buy-in from the ground for any political agreement.
- Demand the enforcement of UNSCRs that call for the protection of civilians to make the Geneva process viable. To do so, we urge you to press the parties to the conflict and especially the backers of the Assad regime to enforce a sustainable nationwide ceasefire with an UN-led monitoring mechanism and credible enforcement. This is clearly illustrated by the regime’s ongoing violations of previous commitments, including from Astana. Civil society organisations active on the ground are ready to cooperate with a credible and impartial monitoring system but we need you, the UN, to assert your role and ensure the impartiality of the ceasefire monitoring.
- Ensure that concrete progress on humanitarian access, the detainee file and forced displacement is at the heart of the Geneva negotiations. In particular, we call on you to fulfil your mandate and ensure progress on the detainee file including by securing (i) a comprehensive plan for the release of detainees beyond small-scale prisoner exchanges; (ii) information about the fates of all Syrians forcibly disappeared; (iii) access by international monitors to all detention facilities; and (iv) a halt to execution orders, particularly in regime security and military facilities, as well as in those run by armed groups.
As UN Special Envoy for Syria you can rescue the current failing Geneva process and compel serious negotiations that serve the needs and demands of the Syrian people. The undersigned Syrian civil society organisations stand ready to assist you in this effort, but we need you and the international community to implement a credible process that will enable us to build a democratic, free and just Syria for all Syrians.
Signed,
- Syrian American Medical Society
- Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression
- Shaml CSOs Coalition
- Kesh Malek Organisation
- Women Now for Development
- The Syrian Network for Human Rights
- Violations Documentation Center
- Baytna Syria
- The Day After
- Union of Medical Care and Relief Organisations
- Syrian Legal Development Programme
- Syrian Nonviolence Movement
- Watanili
- Jasmine Dream
- Start Point
- Sawa Foundation
- Sawa for Development and Aid
- Basamat for Development
- The Working Group for Syria
- The Working Group for Syrian Detainees
- Rethink Rebuild Society
- Albab Coordination
- Local Development & Small Project Support
- Foundation of Syrian Civil Society Organisations
- Syrian American Council
- Zaytoon
- Zaad
- Mohamed Khalili
- Free Syrian Lawyers Association
- Badael Foundation
- Sonbola Group for Education and Development
- Najda Now International
- Noha Alkamcha
- Alaa Basatneh
- Sana Mustafa
- Peace and Justice for Syria
- Syrian Association of Yorkshire
- Syria Solidarity UK
- Scotland4Syria
- Doctors Under Fire
- Guernica 37 International Justice Chambers
- Ministry of Local Administration
- Council of Free Quneitra District
- Council of Free Daraa District
- Union of Free Economists in Daraa
- Directorate General of Civil Status in Daraa and Quneitra
- The Free Directorate of Real Estate in Daraa
- The Free Directorate of Transportation in Daraa
- Directorate of Family Affairs in the Southern Province
- The Free Directorate General of Irrigation in Daraa and Quneitra
- Union of Free Engineers in Quneitra
- The Free Lawyers Union in Daraa
- Syrian Women Association for Development in Quneitra
- Office of Documentation and Civil Status in
- Union of Agricultural Engineers in Quneitra
- The Free Lawyers Union in Quneitra
- Office of Documentation and Civil Status in Sweisah
- Office of Documentation and Civil Status in Heiran
- Directorate of Enkhel
- The Revolutionary Council in Enkhel
- The Enkhel Judiciary
- Office of Documentation and Civil Status in Nawa
- Office of Documentation and Civil Status in Tafas
- Association of Enkhel Ajyal Schools
- Office of Documentation and Civil Status in Hirak
- Office of Documentation and Civil Status in al-Jiza
- Local Council of Enkhel City
- The Public Institute for Grains – Free Daraa Branch
- Syrian Women Dawn Association – Hawa’
- Voice of Women Association
- Syrian Women Peace Association
- Office of Documentation and Reparations (Destroyed Houses)
- Free Doctors Union in Daraa
- Ghadir Al-Bustan Council
- Al-Rafid Council
- Al- Bouweidah Council
- Nab’ Al-Sakhr Council
- Al-Qasibah Council
- Swisah Council
- Kudnah Council
- Beer Ajam Council
- Jabbatha Al-Khashab Council
- Council of Displaced Persons of Quneitra from Damascus
- West Daraa Council
- Al-Kahtanya Council
- Um Batneh Council
- Masehara Council
- Juba Council
- Al-Coum Council
- Khan Arnabeh Council
- Haoud Al-Yarmouk Council
- Moukhayam Daraa Council
- Kanaker Council
- Council of Sa’sa’ in Damascus Countryside
- Al-Mal Council
- Deir El-Adas Local Council
- Kafr Shams Local Council
- Local Council of the Occupied City of Sheikh Maskin
- Local Council of the Displaced from Haoud Al-Yarmouk
- Saida Local Council
- Deir Maker Council
- Dourin Council
- Ghassem Local Council
- Msikah Local Council
- Mahja Local Council
- Da’el Local Council
- Nassib Local Council
- Akraba Local Council
- Karak Al-Sharqi Local Council
- Al-Boeer Local Council
- Nimer Local Council
- Ayb Local Council
- Council of the Lajah and Houran tribes
- Tafas Local Council
- Al Faqi’ Local Council
- Nawa Local Council
- Local Council of Sharae’ Village
- Jabal El-Arab Tribal Council
- City of Azra’ Local Council
- Town of Heit Local Council
- Elemtaih Village Local Council
- Al-Sahwah Local Council
- Al-Na’imah Local Council
- Deir Al-Bakht Local Council
- Almah Town Local Council
- Al-Jiza Local Council
- Umm Al-Ausaj Village Local Council
- Jebab Local Council
- Al Sheikh Saad Local Council
- Ibte’ Local Council
- Kfar Nasig Village Local Council
- Al-Ghariyya Al-Sharqiya Local Council
- Zamrain Village Local Council
- Melihah Al-Atash Village Local Council
- Enkhel Local Council
- ‘Odwan Local Council
- Al-Bakar Local Council
- Syria Relief Network
- Civil Defense in Nawa City
- Security Office in Nawa
- Kahil Local Council
- Local Council of the Northern Lajah Sector
- Jassem Local Council
- Namer Local Council
- Al-Malyha Al-Gharbiah Local Council
- Al-Aalya Local Council
- Al-Taybah Local Council
- Naheta Local Council
- Busra Al-Harir Local Council
- Revolution Command Council in Enkhel City
- The Free Directorate of Religious Affairs in Daraa
- Directorate of Family Affairs in Daraa
- Union of Veterinarians
- Syrian Center For Arbitration & Conflict Resolution in Nawa City
- Al-Omariah Commission for Transitional Justice
- El-Shaheed Khalaf El Kharsan Hospital
- The Free Syrian Teachers Union
- The Syrian Commission for Media
- Al-Jebayya Center for Studies in Nawa
- Agricultural Engineers Union in Daraa
- The Free Engineers Union in Daraa
- The Free Directorate of Health in Daraa
- The Free Directorate of Education In Daraa
- The Free Directorate of Statistics in Daraa
- Nawa Media Institute
- Bidhrat Nama’ Institute
- Center for Legal Consultation in Daraa
- Revolution Command Council in Daraa
- Abna’ Al-Shuhadaa School in Nawa
