Damascus, Feb.08 (SANA) Syrian Justice Minister Mazhar al-Wais met on Sunday in Damascus with a delegation from the United Nations’ International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism (IIIM) to discuss cooperation in criminal investigations and the collection of evidence.
The IIIM delegation was headed by its chief, Robert Petit. Discussions focused on ways to enhance cooperation between the two sides, including the formation of joint workshops aimed at strengthening legal capacities and supporting transitional justice in line with international standards. During its visit, the delegation is also holding meetings with judges and senior officials from the ministry.
Al-Wais had previously met an IIIM delegation in October last year to review support for efforts to achieve justice in accordance with international standards, the mechanism’s role in collecting and preserving evidence, and the importance of coordination with national authorities while respecting Syrian sovereignty.
The IIIM was established by the UN General Assembly in 2016 to assist in investigating serious crimes committed in Syria since 2011. Its mandate includes collecting, preserving and analyzing evidence to support future prosecutions in national, regional or international courts.
In a related development, and as part of efforts by Syrian authorities to develop judicial institutions, a Syrian judicial delegation visited France on Saturday to take part in a training program on investigating international crimes, forensic science, and supporting the path of transitional justice, including issues related to missing persons.
