Clarifying fate of Syria’s missing key to justice – UN official
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Karla Quintana, Head of the Independent Institution on Missing Persons in Syria (IIMP) and UN Assistant Secretary-General, said on Wednesday that the crisis of the missing in Syria impacts not only hundreds of thousands of families but the entire fabric of Syrian society.
“The crisis of the missing in Syria affects not only hundreds of thousands of families, but entire communities and the whole Syrian society,” Quintana told UN News. “Confronting this requires mobilizing every available skill, resource, and capacity.”
She noted that the creation of the IIMP stemmed from Syrian families’ determination to uncover the fate of their missing loved ones and their conviction that some may still return.
“Everyone in Syria knows someone who has gone missing,” she emphasized, stressing that the urgent task cannot be undertaken by any single actor alone.
Quintana warned that “no one can morally bear the responsibility of failing to use all that is ready and available to use in Syria,” calling for urgency and the use of comparative international experience.
The UN official underscored that the search must be Syrian-led and internationally supported, highlighting the resilience of Syrian women who have led efforts to seek truth and accountability.
“Clarifying the fate of the missing is not only a matter of personal closure, but also a cornerstone of Syria’s path toward justice, reconciliation, and reform,” she added.