In an exclusive interview with The National, Robert Petit, who heads the UN’s International Impartial and Independent Mechanism, underscored the importance of safeguarding records from former president Bashar Al Assad’s prisons, which document the fate of thousands of disappeared people and identify perpetrators of the regime’s crimes.
Read the full article here
IIIM’s landmark visit to Syria
In December 2024, the IIIM traveled to Syria for the first time since the establishment of its mandate. This significant milestone reflects the willingness of the new authorities to engage with the IIIM’s justice and accountability work.
With the end of Assad’s regime, new evidence of the many violations and crimes has now become accessible. The IIIM stands ready to bring its expertise and resources to ensure that this evidence is preserved and used to support justice opportunities for Syria’s countless victims and survivors.
IIIM Head discusses the future of accountability in Syria with Al-Arabiya
“Victims never forget. They always want some form of recognition…some form of accountability, some form of justice. It can take many different ways, and it can take decades, but Syrians are among the most resilient, engaged and determined people that I’ve worked with. And I firmly believe that there will be accountability.”
IIIM Head, Robert Petit and Talal Al-Haj discuss the future of accountability in Syria on Al Arabiya News Channel – watch the full interview below.
Time is running out to secure evidence in Syria, says Quebec lawyer
The fall of Bashar al-Assad’s Syrian government presents an unprecedented opportunity to gather evidence on crimes committed during the civil war.
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EU Parliament Subcommittee on Human Rights
Brussels, January 28 – Robert Petit, Head of the IIIM, participated in a panel discussion organized by the European Parliament, titled “Exchange of Views on Truth, Justice, and Accountability in Syria.”
During the session, Mr. Petit stressed the importance of Syrians defining what justice will look like for them. He also highlighted the critical role the EU plays providing support in Syria.
© European Union, 2025
Watch the full video here.
‘We have the case files, we have the evidence’: Head of UN Mechanism on Syria war crimes
Earlier today, the IIIM Head Robert Petit spoke to France 24 about the IIIM response to the new justice opportunities in Syria. When asked about the impact of the regime fall on IIIM’s work, Robert Petit, said “it has potentially opened up a source of evidence against the regime and its allies that was here to fore not available. It has led to hope that accountability for crimes committed in Syria since March 2011 is now within reach”.
Watch the full interview with France 24 here: We have the case files, we have the evidence’: Head of UN Mechanism on Syria war crimes – Perspective
Will those responsible for atrocities in Syria finally face justice?
UN News interviewed Mr. Petit from his offices in Geneva and began by asking him to describe the reactions of the Syrians he met during his visit.
Read the full interview here
Article on Preserving evidence in France info:
Fall of Bashar al-Assad: preserving evidence of the Syrian regime’s countless crimes, a challenge for investigators
Article on Torture in Syrian Prisons in AP News
Inside Bashar Assad’s detention centers, where ‘death was the least bad thing’
Article in Le Monde on the Battle of Preserving evidence
The Battle to Preserve evidence of the crimes of the Al-Assad regime