UN investigators warn Syria's transition requires justice

The UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria has reported that a sustainable transition for the country depends on achieving justice for past and recent atrocities. While investigators commended the progress made since the fall of the Assad regime—including the establishment of a legislative body and a constitutional court—they warned that current judicial proceedings are insufficient to address the scale of violations.

Commissioner Monia Ammar emphasized that addressing both historical abuses and recent violence is essential for reconciliation. Recent areas of concern include violence on the Syrian coast and in western Syria in early 2025, instability in Sweida in July 2025, and hostilities involving the Kurdish-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in January. The Commission also noted that hundreds of people remain missing.

Additional challenges identified by the investigators include the impact of Israeli military activity, fragile civic spaces, gender-based violence, and the political and economic legacy of the conflict. The mandate of the Commission continues to investigate alleged violations of international human rights law dating back to the start of the civil conflict in March 2011.