In the second week of February 2025, the Syrian Women’s Political Movement held several meetings with United Nations envoys in New York City. These meetings aimed to brief the UN on the demands of the Syrian people and the situation in Syria. The briefing focused on the issue of disappeared and forcibly disappeared persons in Syria under the Assad regime, and the urgent need to uncover their fate and hold those responsible accountable. The Syrian Women’s Political Movement was represented in these meetings by Maryam Jalabi, member of the General Secretariat, and Sanaa Mustafa, member of the General Assembly.

The meetings included:

• United States of America: Ting Wo, Deputy Head of the Political Office.
• United Kingdom: His Excellency Mr. Archibald Young, UK Ambassador for UN General Assembly Affairs.
• Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Political Coordinator Faisal Al-Madi, Syria expert, and humanitarian and human rights experts in the mission.
• Office of the UN Secretary-General: His Excellency Mr. Khaled Khairy, Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs for the Middle East at the UN.
• Delegation of EU Member States, including representatives from 27 EU countries and other nations such as Japan, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. The briefing was attended by political coordinators and experts in human rights and humanitarian affairs.

During these meetings, the Syrian Women’s Political Movement delegation highlighted the role of Syrian women at this critical stage in Syria’s history and the importance of their participation in rebuilding a better future for Syria on all tracks.

Regarding the upcoming Syrian National Conference, the delegation emphasized the necessity for the conference to be inclusive of all Syrians, particularly political forces and parties, as these are considered the foundation of political pluralism. This participation is seen as a first step towards a full transition that will restore Syria’s unity and territorial integrity. The delegation also stressed the importance of international efforts to halt the incursions and attacks by the Israeli occupation and to withdraw from all Syrian lands in accordance with UN resolutions and international agreements.

The delegation addressed the dire economic situation in Syria and the necessity of the continuation of humanitarian aid. It also emphasized the urgent need to lift all unilateral sanctions, especially sectoral sanctions imposed on key sectors such as energy, transport, and electricity, which have completely paralyzed the economy. However, sanctions on individuals, particularly those linked to the Assad regime, should remain in place.

Regarding the transitional justice process, the focus was on the urgent need to uncover the truth about the fate of tens of thousands of disappeared and forcibly disappeared persons and to hold those responsible for these violations accountable. This right is non-negotiable and a fundamental condition for achieving justice. The delegation also affirmed that transitional justice is not limited to the criminal aspect but includes institutional reform and memorialization. Among the urgent demands are:

• Ensuring non-repetition of violations, especially torture and enforced disappearance.
• Ensuring families of victims receive all available information about their loved ones.
• Preserving evidence in prisons and security headquarters, protecting mass graves, and stopping any looting, vandalism, or violations that might affect the truth.
• Guaranteeing a central role for victims and their families by involving them in transitional justice efforts, alongside victims’ associations and human rights organizations working in this field.