02 September 2026, Geneva – Head of the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism for Syria (IIIM), Assistant Secretary General, Robert Petit, recently concluded a visit to the Syrian Arab Republic, where he held a series of meetings aimed at enhancing cooperation with Syrian institutions and strengthening support for national transitional justice and criminal accountability efforts.
The IIIM is in ongoing discussions with the Syrian authorities to strengthen its engagement in the country, including through a cooperation framework that would establish a joint workplan and an operational presence for technical staff in Syria.
During the visit, ASG Petit met with the Minister of Justice, Mr. Muzhar al Wais, the Head of the National Commission for Transitional Justice, Brigadier General Abdel Basit Abdellatif, the Head of the National Commission for Missing Persons, Dr. Mohammed Reda Jalkhi, and officials from the Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He also met with representatives of Syrian civil society organisations, the UN Country Team, and diplomatic missions.
Discussions focused on the IIIM’s offers of technical support and expertise to Syrian accountability efforts, particularly in the areas of evidence preservation and management, structural investigations, judicial cooperation, and witness protection.
The IIIM remains committed to supporting credible, independent, and victim-centered accountability efforts in accordance with its mandate and in cooperation with relevant Syrian stakeholders.
In this context, ASG Robert Petit said, “As the Secretary General recently affirmed, ‘Syria stands at a moment of possibility,’ and now is the time for solidarity and partnership. The IIIM takes note of ongoing Syrian efforts in pursuit of transitional justice – which must be inclusive, fair, and in accord with the rule of law- and is determined to support national efforts in a manner consistent with its mandate and expertise. I thank the Syrian authorities for welcoming us to Damascus and for this productive engagement on concrete, tangible initiatives to support and strengthen Syrian-led transitional justice.”
