Geneva, 01 May– The International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism for Syria (IIIM – Syria) today announced that it has shared with international justice actors information and evidence to support justice efforts and to help clarify the fate of missing persons on more than 1,000 separate occasions since becoming operational in 2018. This milestone reflects the sustained demand for the IIIM’s expertise and specialized resources in support of Syria‑related investigations and prosecutions conducted internationally, as well as the important role it plays in helping the search for missing persons.
IIIM Head Robert Petit highlighted the significance of this achievement, stating: “Behind the milestone of 1,000 sharing activities are 269 distinct investigations and prosecutions supported, from 16 extraterritorial jurisdictions. It is a clear measure of the continuing demand for our work and the opportunities for contributing to the urgent efforts to clarify the fate of the missing.”
The IIIM is currently engaged in discussions on a cooperation framework with the Syrian authorities that will govern its collaboration with Syria, including on sharing and technical assistance. Mr Petit emphasized that, while the IIIM has not yet shared any evidence with Syria, the IIIM “very much looks forward to a framework that would pave the way for substantive collaboration in support of accountability efforts in Syria, guided by a shared commitment to inclusive, impartial justice and respect for due process.”
The materials shared by the IIIM span a wide spectrum, from interviews and official documentation issued by government authorities or armed groups including ISIL, to videos, photographs, social media extracts, analytical or geolocation reports, and legal briefs, among others. This breadth reflects the depth and variety of the evidence collected and preserved by the IIIM.
These materials are shared with extraterritorial law-enforcement, prosecutorial, and judicial authorities engaged in the investigation and prosecution of core international crimes committed in Syria in accordance with the IIIM’s terms of reference. Source consent underpins every IIIM sharing activity: no materials the IIIM holds are ever shared without the prior consent of those who provided them.
The IIIM also brings its expertise into courtrooms in-person, providing expert testimony that draws on years of specialized investigative and analytical work to support proceedings at the highest level. The materials shared directly support ongoing investigations and prosecution efforts, including the 40 judicial proceedings for which the IIIM has been authorized to publicly disclose its involvement, though its contributions extend to many more cases still confidential at this stage.