Damascus, SANA – Syria’s National Commission for the Missing Persons signed a cooperation protocol on Saturday with several civil society organizations to create a unified digital platform aimed at supporting documentation and investigation efforts into cases of missing persons.
The announcement was made during a consultative workshop in Damascus, where participants discussed strategies for effective coordination between the commission and NGOs.
Mohammad Reda Jalkhi, head of the commission, said the platform aims to unify national efforts and present a collaborative Syrian voice on the international stage. He stressed that the initiative is open to all Syrians and intended to foster truth and reconciliation.
Jalkhi said the agreement outlines frameworks for long-term cooperation, starting with a six-month operational plan. The plan’s first phase includes direct dialogue with victims’ families and identifies their needs and expectations from civil institutions.
He noted that no official database exists for Syria’s missing, and current estimates rely on external assessments. A large workshop is being planned to address family rights, with an invitation extended to all national organizations.
President Ahmad al-Shara established the commission via a decree issued on May 17, tasking it with searching for missing persons and the forcibly disappeared, creating a national database, and offering legal and humanitarian support to affected families.
Amer Dhawa
