Berlin Dialogue Examines Transitional Justice and the Missing in Syria

A specialized public dialogue on transitional justice in Syria and the fate of missing persons was held on 2 September 2026 at Publix in Berlin.

The discussion addressed the legacy of violations and crimes committed in Syria and examined the legal and institutional mechanisms required to reveal the fate of thousands of missing persons, protect victims’ rights, and hold perpetrators accountable.

Participants also discussed the role of Syrian civil society, transitional institutions, international actors, universal jurisdiction, and international justice mechanisms in advancing accountability and supporting a future based on human rights and the rule of law.

The dialogue featured Karla Quintana, Head of the United Nations Independent Institution on Missing Persons in the Syrian Arab Republic, and Syrian human rights lawyer Anwar Al-Bunni, founder of the Syrian Center for Legal Studies and Research. The session was moderated by journalist and political analyst Kristin Helberg.

The event highlighted the urgent need to place victims and their families at the center of Syria’s transitional justice process.