Damascus, SANA- The Syrian Journalists Association held Monday a symposium at Arab Center for Radio and TV Training in Kafr Souseh, under the title “Role of Media in Supporting Transitional Justice”.
The symposium underscored the necessity for the media to assume its social responsibility through highlighting the progress of this process and adhering to the professional ethics.
Towards real transitional justice, not cosmetic justice
International criminal law lawyer, Moatasem Billah al-Kilani, underlined the importance of distinguishing between civil peace and transitional justice until this justice can take a comprehensive and real characteristic with the aim of achieving sustainable peace.
Al-Kilani said that transitional justice requires mending broken hearts of the affected people through restoring their human dignity, compensating them financially and documenting violations and crimes took place in schools and everywhere else in Syria.
Evaluating media role in covering transitional justice processes
He also noted to the violations committed by defunct regime which are classified as war crimes against humanity, and that is why true transitional justice must be established, with the big role of media in covering its stages.
“Our responsibility as journalists, activists, and media outlets is to touch on the concepts and objectives of transitional justice, conveying them to society via clear educational messages, in addition to a comprehensive media coverage”, al-Kilani went on saying.
Media professionals: The importance of alternative media alongside official media
Journalists’ interventions during the symposium focused on the importance of official and alternative national media in accompanying the transitional justice process with professionalism and transparency, as well concentrating on the importance of civil media.
Rafah al-Allouni/ Manar Salameh
