The Independent Institution on Missing Persons in Syria (IIMP), led by Karla Quintana, was created to address one of the most painful legacies of the conflict, the widespread and ongoing disappearances that affect almost every family in the country.
At a news conference at UN headquarters in New York on Wednesday, Ms. Quintana warned that time is running out to find the hundreds of thousands of people missing during decades of brutality, oppression and enforced disappearances.
“The crisis of the missing in Syria affects not only hundreds of thousands of families, but also entire communities and the entire Syrian society. To face it, we must mobilize all available skills, resources and capacities..”
The U.N. official said the foundation she leads was born out of Syrian families’ insistence on finding out the truth about what happened to their loved ones and their belief that some will reappear.
Collective effort
“Everyone in Syria knows someone who has disappeared,” Ms. Quintana stressed, adding that no one can take on this urgent task alone.
“No one can morally bear responsibility for not using everything that is ready and available in Syria.. Time is of the essence and comparative experiences must be taken into consideration.
A path to justice
In an interview this week with UN Newsthe Assistant Secretary-General – who took office last December – stressed that the search must be led by Syrians and supported by the international community, led by families who have long fought to learn the truth about their loved ones; and expressed particular admiration for the strength demonstrated by Syrian women.
“Clarifying the fate of the disappeared is not only a matter of personal closure, but also a cornerstone of Syria’s path to justice, reconciliation and reform“, she told us.
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Originally published at Almouwatin.com
