Amnesty International called on the Syrian government Aug. 29 to undertake concrete measures, including a nationwide search for thousands who disappeared under the Assad regime, to deliver truth, justice and reparations for the victims and their families. A new report published by the human rights organization finds that thousands of individuals are still struggling to uncover the whereabouts of their family members, many of whom are believed to have been subject to torture, murder, and other human rights abuses.

Over the years of the autocratic regime led by the ousted president Bashar al-Assad, an estimated 100,000 individuals disappeared. Most of the perpetrators responsible for illegal detentions and human rights abuses have never been held accountable, and many have fled the country.

On May 17, the National Commission for the Missing (NCM) was established by Presidential Decree No. 19 to investigate the "fate of missing and forcibly disappeared persons" and to establish a national database to provide citizens and affected family members with accessible information and humanitarian support. According to the NGO Syria Accountability, however, the NCM will only have a humanitarian function, and the evidence collected will not be used in criminal prosecutions.

Deputy regional director for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) at Amnesty International, Kristine Beckerle, said:

Truth, justice, and reparations for Syria’s disappeared must be treated as an urgent state priority, including through ensuring the independence of the newly established National Commission for the Missing (NCM) and providing it with adequate resources and the highest levels of cooperation across all state institutions. With each day that passes, the torment of families waiting for answers about the fate and whereabouts of their loved ones grows.

Amnesty demands the NCM maintain full alignment with international standards, in particular the UN Guiding Principles for the Search of Disappeared Persons, which mandate an autonomous and government independent nature of the search. In particular, the Syrian government, led by transitional president Ahmed al-Sharaa, needs to ensure the mandated independence of the commission, and enshrine into law Principle 7 of the UN Guiding Principles (on the obligation to search for disappeared persons),

In addition, Amnesty stated that alongside "full and adequate reparations for all victims of crimes," the government must ensure an impartial investigation into all crimes under international law and prosecute suspected perpetrators, regardless of their affiliation, and without recourse to the death penalty.

From JURIST, Sept. 1. Used with permission.

See our last report on  the Assad regime's crimes.