Geneva, 19 September – The IIIM today announced it has received its 500th request for assistance (RFA) since it became operational in 2018. These requests are submitted by jurisdictions seeking the IIIM’s specialized expertise and resources to support their Syria-related investigations and prosecutions.
IIIM Head Robert Petit highlighted the significance of this milestone, “These requests represent 338 distinct investigations, each one an important step towards accountability”. He added, “Though these are challenging times, we remain focused on responding to requests as well as proactively sharing material to seize every opportunity to deliver the justice victims and survivors deserve.”
To date, the IIIM has received RFAs from 17 jurisdictions, supporting their efforts through the sharing of information, evidence and analytical products.
This 500th request demonstrates the ongoing international commitment to the pursuit of justice and the critical role of the IIIM’s mandate in strengthening the work of jurisdictions.
These collective efforts send a clear message to perpetrators of serious crimes in Syria, there will be no escape from accountability, no matter how long it takes.
About the IIIM
The International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism (IIIM) is a United Nations organisation, established in 2016 by the UN General Assembly in a landmark vote. It is mandated to assist in the investigation and prosecution of individuals responsible for committing the most serious international crimes (including war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide) in Syria since March 2011.
The IIIM works to collect and preserve evidence from multiple sources to support current and potential future accountability proceedings. A significant number of its sources and information providers are Syrian civil society actors.
The IIIM’s work can be used by jurisdictions with the legal authority to prosecute international crimes, thereby supporting accountability for atrocities committed during the Syrian conflict.
It shares information, evidence and analytical products either in response to requests for assistance or proactively with competent jurisdictions.
It integrates a victim survivor centred approach and proactive strategies on gender and children/youth throughout its work, holding regular consultations and engagements with Syrian civil society and victim/survivor communities.
It is not a court or tribunal; it cannot issue indictments or conduct trials and does not have prosecutorial powers.
The IIIM is:
- Independent: Works without external instructions or influences. It does not share details of the justice processes it supports publicly except as authorised by competent jurisdictions.
- Impartial: Works to cover all international crimes committed by all parties in the conflict, no matter the affiliation, without bias.
- Rigorous: Applies international criminal law methodologies throughout all tracks of its work.
Since the start of its operations the IIIM maintained its efforts to initiate cooperation from the Syrian Arab Republic, in line with its commitment to impartial and inclusive justice. Its calls went unanswered until December 2024, when it was invited to access Syria for the first time. 48 hours later the IIIM Head led a small delegation to Damascus coincidentally on the same day as the Mechanism was established in 2016.
-ENDS-