183 results

Facilitators in Training Prepare to Lead Community Dialogues Across Syria

Fourteen members of Syrian civil society recently gathered for a five-day workshop on community facilitation and transitional justice organized by ICTJ and its partners in the Bridges of Truth project. The workshop marked a major step in the preparation for extensive community dialogues that will take place across Syria in the months ahead.

04/21/26
A women stands in front of photographs hanging on a wall
In Focus

Human Rights Defenders from Sudan and the Wider Region Harness the Power of Digital, Open-Source Investigative Tools

ICTJ recently convened human rights defenders, journalists, and lawyers from Libya, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, and Yemen for a workshop on digital, open-source investigations. Held on November 3-8 in Kampala, Uganda, the course trained participants on open-source tools with a view to strengthening their work investigating, documenting, and monitoring human rights violations.

03/17/26
three people seat together look at a computer screen
In Focus

The Enduring Fight for Justice for Victims in War: An Interview with ICTJ's Fernando Travesí-Sanz

The outlet PassBlue recently interviewed ICTJ Executive Director Fernando Travesí-Sanz about the challenges and breakthroughs ICTJ has encountered while facilitating a victims-led path to transitional justice in post-Assad Syria. Travesí-Sanz compared the experience to the lessons learned from Colombia’s post-conflict transition, revealing the nuanced, fragile nature of both retroactive justice and long-term peacebuilding.

02/06/26

by Arthur Bassas, PassBlue

Portrait of ICTJ Executive Director Fernando Travesí-Sanz
In Focus

The Expert’s Choice 2025 Year in Review

Throughout 2025, ICTJ’s experts offered thoughtful analysis on conflicts and major political developments in more than 10 countries as part of the World Report newsletter. Their insightful commentaries shed light on the obstacles that victims, civil society, and their partners must navigate as they pursue sustainable peace and justice. In this edition, we look back on the past year through the Expert’s Choice column.

01/06/26
Collage of feature images from Experts Choice pieces in 2025
Opinion

Home in Syria: A New Chapter for Justice and Reconciliation

ICTJ and its partners in the Bridges of Truth project presented in Damascus the findings from their recent report on the first community dialogues held in Syria since the fall of the al-Assad regime in December 2024. On October 7, victims and family members, civil society actors, representatives from the country’s nascent transitional justice commissions, government officials, and international partners gathered to reflect on the lessons learned from the dialogues and the path forward for truth, justice, and accountability in Syria.

11/11/25
Six panelists sit in chairs on a stage facing a room full of people and the camera
In Focus

ICTJ and Bridges of Truth Commemorate Eights Years of Partnership in Damascus 

ICTJ and its partners in the Bridges of Truth project hosted an event in Damascus on October 7 to present findings from their recent report on the community dialogues held in April in Syria and to commemorate the project’s eighth anniversary.

10/06/25
A women seated a table where other are also sitting is speaking; she is reaching out with one arm and holding papers in the other hand.
Press Release

An ICTJ-Led International Dialogue on Syria’s New Justice Commissions Explores Opportunities for Lasting Peace  

ICTJ, in collaboration with the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, recently convened the first international dialogue in Geneva in support of Syria’s two new justice commissions. From July 10 to 11, members of the National Commissions for Transitional Justice and for the Missing joined representatives of Syrian victim groups and experts and practitioners from around the world to discuss the present opportunities and challenges for peace and justice in Syria and how best to support the nascent institutions in fulfilling their mandates and advancing acknowledgment, truth, accountability, and repair.

08/13/25
International Dialogue Held in Geneva, 2025.
In Focus

To Syria’s New Justice Commissions: Victims Need You Now

Across Syria today, we continue to witness human rights violations and abuses that run counter to the very principles upon which the revolution was built. In particular, recent violence in the coast and Sweida has deepened the sense of fear and mistrust already felt by many communities. Meanwhile, Syria's new transitional justice commissions have been working hard to lay the foundations of their mandates. Now, at this critical juncture, they must show that they are ready to lead and first and foremost to serve victims.

07/31/25

by

Nousha Kabawat

A large outdoor mural of a man's face is painted over with the Syrian revolution flag. Next to it, the English "Free" is painted in green.
Opinion

In Community Dialogues, Syrians Share Their Stories and Aspirations for Justice

At the end of April in Syria, dozens of local residents in several cities and towns sat down together for the first time to finally speak about their experiences during the 14-year conflict that tore society apart and resulted in countless human rights violations. These community dialogues, organized by ICTJ in partnership with the Bridges of Truth project, provided a safe space for participants to share their stories and hardships, discuss their needs, and express their hopes for justice and reconciliation.

07/18/25
Three women and a man seated in chairs arranged in a semicircle.
In Focus

ICTJ Convenes International Dialogue in Geneva to Support Syria’s National Commissions for Transitional Justice and the Missing 

On July 10 and 11, ICTJ convened a high-level dialogue in Geneva that brought members of Syria’s newly established transitional justice commissions together with international experts and representatives from Syrian civil society represented by the Bridges of Truth project and victims’ groups and multilateral institutions. The two-day event provided guidance to the commissioners as they develop and implement their mandates and supported Syrian-led efforts to build transparent and inclusive institutions.

07/09/25
A woman seated in a chair gestures as she speaks to others seated around in a circle.
Press Release

ICTJ Welcomes Establishment of Syria’s New National Commissions for Transitional Justice and the Missing 

ICTJ welcomes the formation of two new independent institutions in Syria: the National Commission for Transitional Justice and the National Commission for the Missing. Established by presidential decree, these commissions represent a historic step forward in acknowledging the demands of victims and their families and formally responding to the widespread violations committed in Syria over the last decades.

05/22/25
Demonstrators gather around a three-dimensional sculpture of the English word "Truth," waving placards.
Opinion

ICTJ’s Award-Winning Film About a Family’s Journey After a Disappearance in Syria

ICTJ has announced the digital release of its award-winning short animated documentary that explores the trauma and resilience of families of the disappeared in Syria. After an extensive tour of international film festivals in Asia, Europe, and North America, the acclaimed film recently returned home for its first screening in Syria. Now, it is available to audiences the world over on the ICTJ website and YouTube channel.

05/15/25
Screenshot from the animated film featuring a group of people protesting in the street, waving placards
Press Release

Tomorrow We Continue — Full Movie

This award-winning short, animated documentary follows a young mother of two whose husband was detained and disappeared by security forces in Syria some years ago. The film takes the viewer on her journey as a refugee searching for safety in Berlin and depicts the daily struggles she en...

Videos

ICTJ Statement on the Recent Massacre in Syria

ICTJ is outraged by the recent massacre in Syria, where over 1,000 civilians were brutally killed in yet another wave of violence. This appalling crime underscores the urgent and undeniable need to protect civilians and provide justice and accountability.

03/11/25
Opinion

Hopes Heighten for Justice and Accountability in Syria 

The fall of the Assad regime marks the beginning of a long-overdue transformation in Syria. For the first time in decades, space has opened to speak freely about justice, accountability, and reconciliation. It is a moment filled with uncertainty and pain, but also one of immense hope.

03/03/25

by

Nousha Kabawat

Large crowd of people in a city street some holding and waving the Syrian flags
Opinion

ICTJ Facilitates Historic Meeting Between Syria's President and Families of the Missing and Detainees

On February 1, 2025, ICTJ facilitated a meeting between family members of the missing and detainees and Syria’s transitional president, Ahmed Al-Sharaa, and the minister of foreign affairs, Asaad Al-Shaibani, at the Presidential Palace in Damascus. Attendees presented a number of specific urgent demands related to the missing and forcibly disappeared, while President Ahmed Al-Sharaa underscored the government’s commitment to the issue.

02/11/25
Two men are seated at the front of a large elegant room. Another 10 or so people are seated in chairs along the side walls.
In Focus

ICTJ-led Events Spotlight the Needs of Syrian and Ugandan Victims at the ICC’s Annual Assembly of State Parties

On December 2 to 6, 2024, the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) Assembly of States Parties—the court’s management oversight and legislative body—held its 23rd session in The Hague. As in previous years, ICTJ took an active part, and its experts joined many of the discussions sharing their knowledge and insight. ICTJ organized two side events, one focusing on Syrian victims and another on reparations for victims in Northern Uganda.

12/18/24
people in business attire seated around a table
In Focus

ICTJ Statement: A Historic Moment for Syria and the Path Ahead 

The fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime after 53 years of authoritarian rule marks a significant moment in the pursuit of justice, peace, and human rights. While this transition opens the door to new possibilities, it also underscores the immense obstacles and responsibilities that lie ahead.

12/17/24
A large crowd of people in the street, many waving the Syrian flag
Opinion

The Accelerating Tragedy of Syria’s Displaced: Failed Commitments, Forced Returns, and the Normalization of International Crimes

Drawing from data and testimonies of Syrians both inside the country and in the diaspora collected by civil society organizations, this report looks at the justice needs of Syrian victims of human rights violations in the context of ongoing debates on refugee returns. It critically ex...

by

Bridges of Truth

Illustration depicting an elderly woman carrying an armchair on her back
Report

A New Digital Approach to Human Rights Documentation and Advocacy in Libya and Yemen 

In this era of technological transformation, it is critically important to develop digital strategies for documenting human rights violations, analyzing data for accountability or reparations purposes, and safely advocating for human rights online. This is particularly true in contexts where victims, human rights actors, and members of the media live in fear. To this end, ICTJ has recently led trainings for human rights activists in conflict-affected countries on open-source investigation tools to help them do their work more effectively.

09/27/24
A standing woman holds a certificate flanked by several others. All smile facing the camera.
In Focus

‘The Search for People’s Well-Being’: Mainstreaming a Psychosocial Approach to Transitional Justice

The field of transitional justice is increasingly recognizing the relevance of mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) in contexts of massive human rights violations. Despite growing advocacy and awareness at the global policy level, however, the field lacks a systematic approa...

by

Virginie Ladisch and Shayna Lewis

an image of colorful painting featuring a young girl
Report

ICTJ Releases New Report on Restorative Justice

In the aftermath of armed conflict or repression, communities often struggle to rebuild social relations that have been damaged or destroyed by violence and abuse. Restorative justice can potentially play a valuable role in such societies, bringing together the people who have been harmed by crimes and the individuals responsible for those harms, often in the form of a dialogue, to address the offense and its consequences. A new ICTJ research report offers insight and guidance on the use of a restorative justice framework in responding to massive and grave human rights violations, drawing primarily from experiences in Colombia, Sierra Leone, Tunisia, and the Philippines’ Bangsamoro region.

04/23/24
A man and audience member holds his phone to record proceedings of panel on the stage in front of him.
Press Release

Transforming Social Relations: Restorative Responses to Massive Human Rights Violations

This research report offers guidance on the application of a restorative justice framework in contexts of massive human rights violations, including its advantages and challenges. Based on the experiences of Colombia, Sierra Leone, Tunisia, and the Philippines, the study examines how ...

A man and audience member holds his phone to record proceedings of panel on the stage in front of him.
Report

Shedding Light on the Mental Health Needs of Families of the Missing in Syria

On February 8, ICTJ held an event in The Hague on the missing and disappeared in Syria, in partnership with the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The event brought together activists, journalists, artists, and policymakers to reflect on the critical humanitarian needs of victims and their families and the role of the newly established international body on the missing in Syria, which is mandated in part to address these needs.

03/11/24
Two women seated on chairs engage in a conversation.
In Focus

‘We Must Resist, Persist, and Never Desist’—Colombian and African Civil Society Exchange Local Strategies for Promoting Reparations  

On November 28, 2023, ICTJ organized an international dialogue in Bogotá, Colombia, to share innovative strategies for advancing victims’ rights to redress for human rights abuses and for establishing more victim-centered development policies. The gathering also marked the official launch of ICTJ’s new report—Advancing Victims’ Rights and Rebuilding Just Communities Local Strategies for Achieving Reparation as a Part of Sustainable Development—which presents findings from a two-year comparative study of local efforts in Colombia, The Gambia, Tunisia, and Uganda to advance reparations.

02/15/24
Two women seated indoors look intently ahead of them.
In Focus