Promoting peace in Syria: Great opportunities, great risks
As fighting intensified, the United Nations never stopped working behind the scenes to forge a political solution that would bring dignity, freedom and justice to the Syrian people.
Below are some important developments in which the United Nations has played an important role towards a just peace in Syria.
2012: Peace efforts begin in earnest
Less than a year later the March 2011 pro-democracy protests (which spread across the Arab world in what many called the first Arab Spring) led to a violent crackdown of the Syrian government, former Secretary-General Kofi Annan (1997-2006) was tasked with leading conflict resolution efforts, as Joint Special Envoy of the United Nations and the League of Arab States Arabic in Syria.
Mr. Annan has assembled one six point plancalled for an end to violence, access to humanitarian agencies, release of detainees, initiation of inclusive political dialogue and unrestricted access to international media.
The plan was approved by Security Council in April 2012, with the adoption of resolutions (2042 and 2043) leading to the establishment of the United Nations Monitoring Mission in Syria (UNSMIS), ended in August of that year, as civil strife intensified.
2012 also saw the publication of Geneva Communiquéresults of the meeting of the Action Group for Syria, which includes several Middle Eastern countries and five permanent members of the Security Council.
The document – adopted by both the General Assembly and the Security Council – builds on Mr Annan’s peace plan and has guided UN mediation efforts towards a substantial political settlement. since.
Abdullah, 6, stands in front of a wall east of Ghouta, a suburb of Damascus, Syria, where he and his sister were pulled from the rubble after it was hit by an artillery shell.
2014: Geneva deadlocked
Mr Annan left his role as Joint Special Representative in August 2012 and was replaced by senior Algerian diplomat Lakhdar Brahimi, whose time in the role coincided with the conflict escalating into a civil war. comprehensive war.
In January 2014, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon convened an international conference (known as Geneva II), followed by talks between representatives of the Syrian Government and opposition forces, moderated by Mr. Brahimi.
Ultimately, the two sides could not come to an agreement: Brahimi suspended negotiations and did not extend his mandate beyond May 2014.
The Security Council unanimously approved resolution 2254 on Syria negotiations (file)
2015: Passed important resolution
A breakthrough was achieved the following year, under the mandate of Mr. Brahimi’s successor, another senior United Nations negotiator, Staffan de Mistura.
Strong diplomatic engagement in 2015 between Russia and the US as well as other key international stakeholders led to the establishment of the Association Syria International Support Group (ISSG), to discuss how to accelerate an end to the conflict in Syria.
The negotiations resulted in passage by the Security Council resolution 2254 (2015)which establishes a sequence and timeline for a political transition, including negotiations on the establishment of a credible, inclusive, non-sectarian Government as well as a process and milestones time to draft a new constitution. It also calls for free and fair elections, held under United Nations supervision.
Saif fled to Jordan in 2014 after two years of detention in Syria that left him severely physically and psychologically injured. Now he and his mother face financial collapse (file 2018).
2016: Fighting for impunity for war crimes and atrocities
Impunity has been a prominent feature of the conflict in Syria. It has hampered conflict resolution efforts and challenged one of the United Nations’ core values – accountability.
Throughout the conflict, the United Nations has worked to investigate human rights violations and closely monitor the actions of terrorist groups: resolution 2254 reiterated its previous call for Member States to prevent stop terrorist acts by the self-proclaimed Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as Dae’sh), Al-Nusra Front, Al Qaeda and other terrorist groups, and call on all parties to concerned immediately allowed the institute humanitarian aid to all those in need and the release of those arbitrarily detained, especially women and children.
An important step in addressing the issue of impunity was taken on 21 December 2016 when the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism (IIIM) was established through a resolution of the General Assembly.
IIIM was established to assist in the investigation and prosecution of the most serious crimes under international law, especially criminal offenses. genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.
On December 8, as news of the fall of the Assad regime filled the headlines, IIIM issued a statement declare expressed hope that Syrians will finally have the opportunity to live in a country based on justice and the rule of law.
“Responsibility for the countless suffering of the past 13 years must be central to future discussions and efforts by the Syrian people as well as the international community…torture in Government-run prisons , widespread sexual and gender-based violence, and even genocide.”
Explosion in Aleppo, during the fall of the Bashar al-Assaf regime in December 2024
2024: A new era of hope and uncertainty
UN Secretary General António Guterres declare on Sunday, December 8, that “the fall of the dictatorship” offers “a historic opportunity for Syrians to build a stable and peaceful future” but emphasized that much work remains work to ensure an orderly political transition to renewed institutions.
His special envoy, Norwegian diplomat Geir Pedersen – appointed in October 2018 – called for “urgent political negotiations” in Geneva to ensure a peaceful future for Syria and said that key players – including Iran, Russia, Türkiye and the US – supported his call.
“This dark chapter has left deep scars,” Mr. Pedersen told journalists on Sunday, “but today we cautiously look forward to the opening of a new era – a period of peace, reconciliation, dignity and inclusion for all Syrians.”
Mr. Pedersen also said Nothing can stand in the way of a peaceful transition. With authorities on the ground, including HTS, the force leading the capture of Damascus, present in many parts of the country, he emphasized that there are many other armed groups operating in Syria.
The situation is extremely fluid and the Special Envoy emphasized in a closed meeting before the Security Council on 9 December: “TThis is a real opportunity for change, but Syrians themselves need to seize this opportunity and supported by the United Nations and the international community.”
