The Future of Syria: prospects for justice, peace and reconciliation
What is the future of Syria and its people? Can peace be achieved, or will the fault lines of the conflict solidify with Assad maintaining his grip on power?
The war in Syria is now a decade old, with immense human suffering and destruction in its wake. More than 180,000 people have been killed, 11 million displaced, and more than 100,000 have been forcibly disappeared.
While the several groups involved have committed human rights violations, the Assad government's stand out, having used torture, barrel bombs, killing civilians indiscriminately, and besieging populations in the opposition's areas.
Since 2011 there have been efforts by the international community to negotiate peace but with little success. At the same, Syrian civil society actors and diaspora are pursuing ways to hold the government accountable for their crimes. Whether this is through a truth and reconciliation committee or an international legal tribunal depends on the political conditions and the support given by the international community.
An online discussion with our experts on these critical issues.
Panel:
Aron Lund, Researcher at FOI in Stockholm and Fellow at The Century Foundation.
Dr. Johanna Mannergren Selimovic, Associate Professor in Peace and Development Research School of Social Sciences, Södertörn University and Senior Associate Research Fellow at UI
Laila Alodaat, MENA Director at Women's International League for Peace and Freedom
The conversation was moderated by Dr. Rouzbeh Parsi, Head of UI's Middle East and North Africa Programme.