New platform planned to document Syria’s missing persons
DAMASCUS, Syria (North Press) – The head of the National Commission for the Missing in Syria, Mohammad Reza al-Jalali, told North Press on Sunday that the commission is preparing to launch a digital platform aimed at establishing a national database of missing persons across the country.
Al-Jalali explained that the initiative will be supported by field teams working in different regions to complement the digital effort. “The goal of this platform is to reach an approximate count of the missing persons in Syria,” he said.
He added that over the past two days, a workshop was held between the National Commission for the Missing and several leading Syrian civil society organizations, particularly those engaged in documentation efforts. The meeting, he noted, was conducted within the framework of the authority’s guiding principles, foremost among them the principle of inclusiveness.
According to al-Jalali, the workshop produced significant outcomes, including the decision to establish a national support platform for the commission in cooperation with major Syrian civil society organizations. “This platform represents genuine support for the commission’s work and lays the foundation for real partnerships between civil society institutions and the commission, ultimately serving the cause of Syria’s missing persons,” he said.
Mahmoud Aswad, Executive Director of the organization Lawyers and Doctors for Human Rights, told North Press: “We, as a group of Syrian civil society organizations, have come together with the commission and its advisory team to push forward with efforts supporting its enormous mission.”
He described the authority’s work as “tremendous,” stressing that it requires the expertise of all Syrians, local and international organizations, and even UN bodies. “This commitment must be translated into concrete actions,” he added.
Aswad noted that after two days of consultations, the participating organizations began signing memorandums of understanding with the authority, which he described as the beginning of larger cooperation agreements. “This will allow more Syrian organizations to join, placing their collective expertise at the service of the commission in addressing this sensitive issue that concerns all Syrians,” he said.