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. The event also marked the Bridges of Truth’s eighth anniversary and a milestone for the project as it shifts its modality of work from outside to inside Syria.
The Bridges of Truth project is a collaboration among ICTJ and seven leading Syrian civil society organizations: Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression, the Center for Civil Society and Democracy, Dawlaty, Badael, The Day After, Lawyers and Doctors for Human Rights, and the Syrian Institute for Justice. Since 2017, the project has raised awareness about the plight of detainees, the forcibly disappeared, and their families, and advocated for justice for the innumerable victims of the Syrian conflict and the former regime’s repression.
The president of the National Commission for Transitional Justice, Mr. Abdulbaset Abdullatif, delivered the event’s opening remarks. “The main recommendation of this report, in my opinion, is the need to reach the majority of Syrians in their cities, towns, and villages,” he stressed. “The report highlights the importance of connecting with people directly, explaining transitional justice, and understanding what Syrians hope to achieve through this process.”
Earlier this year, in April 2025, the Bridges of Truth team carried out its first major activity inside Syria since the regime’s collapse. The team organized seven intensive community dialogue sessions in various cities, during which 133 local men, women, and youth from diverse communities, including victims and family members, shared their stories and vision for justice, reparation, and socioeconomic recovery.
Some of the participants in these dialogues attended the October 7 event and participated in its discussions, alongside other victims and family members, civil society leaders, representatives from the transitional justice commission and the National Commission for the Missing Persons, government officials such as the deputy minister of labor and social affairs, and international partners including representatives from the European Union and the governments of Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. Together, they considered the report’s findings and recommendations and their potential to contribute to ongoing justice efforts in Syria.
“During the dialogue sessions, we had diversity in both representation and experience,” explained Nagham Salman, a project manager at Dawlaty. “We made sure every voice was heard and that no one was excluded, which is essential to building transitional justice processes that reflect the perspectives of victims and local communities.”
Soon after concluding the dialogues, the Bridges of Truth team produced the report “Our Pain Turned into Policy.” It compiles and reflects on the views expressed in the dialogues, provides an analysis of the path forward for transitional justice in Syria, and proposes some actionable steps in the short and medium term to promote peace, security, and justice.
“This report is the culmination of eight years of continuous work and genuine partnership,” asserted Nousha Kabawat, head of ICTJ’s Syria program. “In the long preparation for this moment, it was crucial to bring Syrians together, to listen to their rich conversations and experiences, and to convey their diverse voices, aspirations, and dreams. They expressed a shared desire for justice that is inclusive, transparent, and built from the bottom up.”
The dialogue in Damascus overall reaffirmed the critical importance of including victims and ordinary Syrians in any transitional justice process and ensuring their voices and lived experiences help shape the national conversation on justice and reconciliation. Moreover, it inspired a renewed sense of commitment to peace, security, and justice in Syria among the participants. “As the international community, it’s important that we engage, we support, and we listen to what must be a Syrian-led process,” declared Ms. Ann Snow, the U.K. special representative for Syria. “We must be mindful of how we interact and how we support, making sure that everything we do supports that future Syria that respects the rights and freedoms of all Syrians.”
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PHOTO: Panelists discuss findings of the recent report “Our Pain Turned into Policy” at an event in Damascus on October 7, 2025. (Photo: Abedalbaset Alhasan/ICTJ)
