That’s in keeping with Najat Rochdi, the UN Deputy Particular Envoy for Syria, who’s in Damascus assembly a number of members of the transitional authorities to make sure all Syrians are capable of take part within the nation’s future, which is struggling to deal with an acute humanitarian disaster and faltering financial system.
In an unique interview with UN Information, Ms. Rochdi spoke on Friday to Reem Abaza. The interview has been edited for readability and size.
UN Information: That is your second go to to Syria for the reason that fall of the Assad regime. Whom did you meet with this time and what are your principal impressions?
Najat Rochdi: I by no means thought I’d be capable of witness one thing like this in my lifetime. It’s extraordinary to see this degree of pleasure, hope, and euphoria.
However this additionally comes with a whole lot of expectations. That is the time to rebuild the whole lot that was destroyed, together with rebuilding the dignity of all Syrians. We have to guarantee that there’s a seat for everyone, when it comes to a good illustration of men and women of all Syrians, no matter their spiritual, ethnic, cultural or geographic background.
Beneath the earlier regime, communities had been pitted in opposition to one another, so we’re wanting ahead to an actual social cohesion, whereby each Syrian is a full citizen, having fun with full rights and having fun with the identical freedoms.
The de facto authorities have proven, by means of their statements, an actual willingness to take the nation from the place it was to one thing a lot better that meets the calls for and aspirations of all Syrians.
One expression that we hear in each assembly is that it’s time to transfer from the darkness to the sunshine. In that regard, we actually welcome the choice to arrange a nationwide dialogue. It is essential that this dialogue elements within the voices of all Syrians, who’ve paid a really, very excessive value to get the place they’re at present.
UN Information: What’s the function of the UN throughout this essential time for Syria?
Najat Rochdi: We have to meet with teams from each a part of Syria. together with feminists, spiritual leaders, and neighborhood leaders, to higher perceive their priorities, considerations and desires. That is one of the simplest ways for us to assist and accompany the political transition.
We have already got a transparent concept of the priorities. The primary one is to determine the whereabouts and the destiny of the lacking. It’s heartbreaking to fulfill the households.
After the autumn of Assad, they initially had a whole lot of hope that their family members are nonetheless alive. This hope is fading, however they at the very least wish to know the place their our bodies are. So long as they do not have a transparent reply, they may by no means be capable of mourn and to heal.
The survivors and households must see accountability in motion, however there shouldn’t be any revenge or retaliation. We all know that hearts are damaged, that they’ve hearth inside them as a result of this struggling is so excessive. However on the identical time, one of the simplest ways to essentially transfer on is thru a technique of actual justice.
The primary WHO emergency constitution of 2025 lands in Syria delivering 32.5 tons of medication and emergency kits.
UN Information: What are the opposite principal challenges going through Syria proper now?
Najat Rochdi: I believe the most important problem at present is to ensure that the political transition is completed in a approach that makes all Syrians really feel secure, that they’re all part of it, and that it’s an inclusive course of.
The primary take a look at will certainly be the nationwide dialogue, ensuring that it lays the groundwork for political choices which create a secure, affluent, inclusive Syria for all Syrians.
The second problem is to ensure that these answerable for revising the structure or writing the brand new structure emanate from all elements and elements of the Syrian society, as a result of this structure have to be the guarantor for human rights and for freedom for all.
The third one is to ensure that the transitional authorities isn’t going to get into any sort of quotas. Inclusivity doesn’t imply that you simply get a quota for this sect and quota for that sect.
Quite the opposite, a transitional authorities has to talk, defend and serve all people the identical approach. Girls’s voices have to be heard, not solely as a result of that is truthful, however as a result of Syria wants each single citizen to contribute to its reconstruction.
In the end, the problem will likely be to ensure that choices made by the transitional authorities finally results in truthful, free and clear elections.
One other set of big challenges is expounded to the acute humanitarian state of affairs. Funding could be very low, and there are severe shortages when it comes to entry to primary companies and infrastructure.
UN Information: You’ve gotten intensive involvement with the Syrian civil society and girls organizations. What can they contribute to the political transition?
Najat Rochdi: Over the previous many years, they’ve courageously stood up for his or her rights. They need equal rights and freedom for everyone. They need the worldwide neighborhood and United Nations to advocate for equal rights for all. And so they desire a seat on the desk, whether or not within the transitional authorities, the writing of a brand new structure or getting ready elections.
The Girls’s Advisory Board [a group set up by the Office of the Special Envoy in 2016 to ensure diverse women’s perspectives in the political process] had an important function up to now and nonetheless has a task.
We now have inspired them to attach with different ladies’s teams as a result of now’s the time for all Syrians to hitch forces and work collectively, through the upcoming transition interval.
On the UN, we stay up for extra engagement with the authorities, but in addition with all elements of society, whether or not civil society or political events or neighborhood leaders – as a result of that is their revolution, that is their victory, that is their nation. And our function is to assist and accompany them every time we’re wanted.
