Syria: Qamishli Hosts The “Voices for Peace” 2th Annual Forum A Comprehensive National Dialogue Among All Sects And Components Is The Essential Step Towards A Real Political Transition

2025-10-07
On the International Day of Peace, Analysis and Strategic Study Organization (ASO), along with a group of other Syrian organizations and associations, co-hosted the Second Annual Forum of Voices for Peace on September 21, 2025, at the Azadi Park Hall in Qamishli, northeastern Syria.

More than 80 participants, including representatives of civil society organizations and activists concerned with issues of justice and peace from diverse backgrounds, participated in the forum.

The forum included dialogue spaces and workshops where participants expressed their views on key issues, such as “transitional justice,” “political transition,” and “reconstruction.” The aim was to develop more comprehensive and just approaches to peace processes, ensuring the inclusion of the voices of victims, survivors, and all communities affected by the conflict, even those affected before 2011.

On the first topic, participants in focus groups discussed the transitional justice challenges and opportunities in Syria. The challenges were divided into security challenges, such as “the continued conflict and the lack of stability,” and political challenges, represented by “the absence of a “national political consensus.”

As for the opportunities that can be built upon to achieve a comprehensive model of transitional justice, the groups focused on the possibility of holding an inclusive national conference to discuss the gaps and challenges facing achieving justice appropriate to the Syrian context. Participants also considered active civil movement to be one of the opportunities that can be built upon, while others saw the current moment as favorable for implementing UN Resolution 2254 and involving all parties, particularly victims, in the political process.

The second topic addressed “political transition” and discussed how to ensure real participation of the communities of northeast Syria in any future political process, the fundamental rights of the various ethnic and religious groups that must be protected in any political agreement, and the form of governance and permanent constitution.

Participants emphasized that an inclusive national dialogue, involving all sects and groups, in which all Syrian parties and local forces participate, and drafting a constitution that guarantees the rights of all groups and treats them equally is the essential step toward a genuine political transition. Participants also stressed the need for civil society to play an oversight role over government action to ensure the participation of youth, women, and people with special needs in political and governmental work and strengthen their role.

Discussions of the third topic focused on reconstruction. Participants discussed the most urgent reconstruction priorities in northeast Syria, how to involve local communities in developing and implementing reconstruction plans, and how to adhere to the principle of “do no harm.”

Participants emphasized that rehabilitating infrastructure, especially electricity, water, communications, and health, supporting the safe return of the internally displaced, refugees, and forcibly displaced persons, and ensuring the involvement of local communities in determining reconstruction priorities and including all areas without discrimination, are urgent priorities in the reconstruction process.

Organizations participating in organizing the forum:

White Hope, Nodem, TBS, Syriac Cultural Society, Al Diyar Association, Analysis and Strategic Study Organization (ASO), Milano Panel, Nextep, Nextory Platform, Ahimsa, and Syrians for Truth and Justice.