UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL

Agenda: ENSURING HUMAN RIGHTS AND TRANSITIONAL JUSTICE IN POST-

ASSAD SYRIA.

Letter from the Executive Board

Welcome Letter from the Dais Dear Delegates,
It gives us immense pleasure to welcome you to the simulation of the Human
Right Council (UNHRC) at INTRA MUN,[Link] agenda for the session is
“Ensuring human rights and transitional justice in post Assad Syria..” The Rules of
Procedure (ROP) we will be following for this session is the UN4MUN ROP. This
study guide is by no means the end of research, we would very much appreciate it
if the members are able to find new realms in the agenda and bring it forth in the
committee.
We are beyond excited to meet you and are eager to welcome you to the two days
full of productive and stimulating debate. We hope that as soon as you join the
committee session you learn something new and that hopefully by the end of the
conference you have grown in one way or another; whether it’s your ability to
overcome your fear of public speaking or your ability to lead large groups of
people.
If this is your first Model United Nations Conference, then don’t worry too much
and feel free to approach any of us at any point in the conference if you need any
form of support. Please do not hesitate to reach out to any member of the
Executive Board and even your fellow delegates if you have any concerns. For any
queries, leave any of the Executive Board members a text and we will try our best
to get back to you as soon as possible. Wishing one and all, all the very best!
Regards,

Mitansh Agarwal (Chairperson) Priyansh Kandoi (Vice-Chairperson)

+91 9083567797 +91 9635795367
 About United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC)

The Human Rights Council is an intergovernmental body within the United

Nations system responsible for strengthening the promotion and protection of
human rights around the globe and for addressing situations of human rights
violations and making recommendations on them. It has the ability to discuss all
thematic human rights issues and situations that require its attention throughout
the year. It meets at the United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG).
The Human Rights Council is the main intergovernmental body within the United
Nations responsible for human rights. Established in 2006 by the General
Assembly, it is responsible for strengthening the promotion and protection of
human rights around the globe.
The Council, composed of 47 Member States, provides a multilateral forum to
address human rights violations and country situations. It responds to human
rights emergencies and makes recommendations on how to better implement
human rights on the ground.
The Council benefits from substantive, technical, and secretariat support from
the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).

Introduction
The fall of the Assad regime marks a pivotal moment in Syria's history, presenting
both challenges and opportunities for rebuilding the nation. The agenda of
"Ensuring Human Rights and Transitional Justice in Post-Assad Syria" focuses on
addressing the deep scars left by years of conflict, repression, and human rights
abuses. It emphasizes the need for accountability for war crimes, justice for
victims, and the establishment of mechanisms to prevent future violations.
In this conference we seeks to create a framework and implementable backing
solutions for transitional justice that includes truth-seeking, reparations, and
institutional reforms. It also highlights the importance of protecting minority
rights, fostering inclusivity, and rebuilding trust among Syria's diverse
communities. By prioritizing human rights and justice, this initiative aims to lay
the foundation for a peaceful, democratic, and unified Syria.

Global Significance
The global significance of this Agenda lies in its potential to set a transformative
precedent for post-conflict recovery and justice. This measure addresses the
urgent need to confront decades of human rights abuses, including war crimes,
torture, and enforced disappearances, while fostering reconciliation among
Syria's fractured communities. By prioritizing accountability and inclusivity, it
reinforces international human rights norms and demonstrates the global
community's commitment to justice and dignity.
Moreover, stabilizing Syria is crucial for regional security, as it can reduce
tensions, mitigate refugee crises, and curb the spread of extremism. The success
of this initiative could inspire similar approaches in other conflict-affected
regions, strengthening global efforts to uphold human rights and the rule of law. It
also highlights the importance of transitional justice in rebuilding trust, promoting
inclusivity, and creating a legal framework aligned with international standards.
This measure is not just about Syria—it is a call to the world to prioritize justice
and human rights in the face of conflict and repression.

Heightened Gender Based Violence in Post-Assad Syria

Heightened gender-based violence (GBV) is a critical issue in post-Assad Syria,
deeply intertwined with the broader agenda of ensuring human rights and
transitional justice. During the Syrian conflict, GBV was systematically used as a
weapon of war, with women and girls disproportionately targeted through acts
such as sexual violence, forced marriage, and trafficking. Men and boys were also
subjected to sexual violence, particularly in detention settings. The breakdown of
law and order, coupled with the normalization of violence, has perpetuated GBV
in post-conflict zones, leaving survivors with long-term physical, psychological,
and economic scars.
Addressing GBV is essential for rebuilding trust and fostering reconciliation in
Syrian society. Transitional justice mechanisms must prioritize the
documentation of GBV cases, ensure survivor-centered approaches in truth-
seeking processes, and hold perpetrators accountable through fair trials.
Additionally, access to healthcare, psychosocial support, and legal aid for
survivors is crucial for their recovery and reintegration. International frameworks,
such as the UN Security Council's Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace, and
Security, emphasize the importance of including women in peacebuilding and
decision-making processes to address GBV effectively. Tackling this issue is not
only a moral imperative but also a cornerstone for achieving sustainable peace
and gender equality in post-Assad Syria.

Protecting the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and the

Minorities
Internally displaced persons (IDPs) in post-Assad Syria represent one of the most
vulnerable populations, with over 6.8 million people uprooted due to conflict,
violence, and human rights abuses. These individuals, often trapped within the
country's borders, face dire conditions in overcrowded camps or conflict zones,
with limited access to food, shelter, healthcare, and education. Women and
children, who make up the majority of IDPs, are particularly at risk of exploitation,
gender-based violence, and inadequate protection. Addressing the plight of IDPs
requires comprehensive solutions, including safe and voluntary return, local
integration, or resettlement, alongside access to justice and reparations.
Transitional justice mechanisms must prioritize the inclusion of IDPs in rebuilding
efforts to ensure their voices are heard and their rights upheld.
The protection of minorities is equally critical in post-Assad Syria, where
communities such as Christians, Druze, Yazidis, and Kurds have faced targeted
violence, persecution, and displacement. Many minority groups have been
uprooted from their ancestral lands, losing not only their homes but also their
cultural and religious heritage. Ensuring their protection involves safeguarding
their rights, preserving their cultural identity, and addressing the injustices they
have endured. Transitional justice mechanisms should document abuses against
minorities, hold perpetrators accountable, and include minority representatives in
truth-seeking and decision-making processes. Rebuilding trust and fostering
inclusivity are essential for creating a unified and peaceful Syria that respects the
diversity of its people.

Women’s Role in Peacebuilding and Recovery

Women and girls should not only be seen as victims of conflict and instability.
They have historically had and continue to have a role as combatants, as part of
organized civil society, as human rights defenders, as members of resistance
movements and as active agents in both formal and informal peacebuilding and
recovery processes.
Post-conflict situations and reforms can be viewed as an opportunity for
transformation of the societal structures and norms in place before the conflict in
order to ensure greater enjoyment of women’s human rights. Yet, women’s
exclusion from conflict prevention efforts, post-conflict transition and
reconstruction processes have been matters of concern for the international
community.
In October 2020, the Human Rights Council (Resolution A/HRC/RES/45/28)
recognized the crucial role of women in the prevention and resolution of conflicts
and in peacebuilding and confidence-building, the importance of their full, equal
and meaningful participation and full involvement in all efforts for the
maintenance and promotion of peace and security. It called the High
Commissioner to report to the Human Rights Council on the current state of play
of the mainstreaming of the human rights of women and girls in conflict and post-
conflict situations in the work of the Council (forthcoming report is due in 2022 –
see call for inputs on the overview page).

International Human Rights Law

International human rights law is reflected, inter alia, in the Universal Declaration
of Human Rights, as well as in a number of international human rights treaties
and in customary international law. In particular, the core universal human rights
treaties are:
● The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and its Optional
Protocol;

● The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and its two Optional Protocols;

● The International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination;

● The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and its
Optional Protocol;

● The Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or
Punishment and its Optional Protocol;

● The Convention on the Rights of the Child and its two Optional Protocols;

● The International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and
Members of Their Families;

● The International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance;
and

● The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its Optional Protocol.

International Humanitarian Law

International humanitarian law is a set of rules that seek to limit the effects of
armed conflict on people, including civilians, persons who are not or no longer
participating in the conflict and even those who still are, such as combatants. To
achieve this objective, international humanitarian law covers two areas: the
protection of persons; and restrictions on the means and the methods of warfare.
International humanitarian law finds its sources in treaties and in customary
international law. The rules of international humanitarian law are set out in a
series of conventions and protocols. The following instruments form the core of
modern international humanitarian law:
● The Hague Regulations respecting the Laws and Customs of War on Land;

● The Geneva Convention (I) for the Amelioration of the Condition of the Wounded and Sick in
Armed Forces in the Field;

● The Geneva Convention (II) for the Amelioration of the Condition of Wounded, Sick and
Shipwrecked Members of Armed Forces at Sea;

● The Geneva Convention (III) relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War;

 ● The Geneva Convention (IV) relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War; The
Protocol Additional to the Geneva Conventions and relating to the Protection of Victims of
International Armed Conflicts (Protocol I); and

● The Protocol Additional to the Geneva Conventions and relating to the Protection of Victims
of Non-International Armed Conflicts (Protocol II).

The Hague Regulations are generally considered as corresponding to customary

international law, binding on all States independently of their acceptance of
them. The Geneva Conventions have attained universal ratification. Many of the
provisions contained in the Geneva Conventions and their Protocols are
considered to be part of customary international law and applicable in any armed
conflict. Other international treaties dealing with the production, use and
stockpiling of certain weapons are also considered part of international
humanitarian law, insofar as they regulate the conduct of armed hostilities and
impose limitations on the use of certain weapons.
Some of these conventions are:
● The Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-
Personnel Mines and on their Destruction;

● The Convention on Cluster Munitions;

● The Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of

Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction;

● The Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of
Chemical Weapons and on their Destruction;

● The Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons

Which May be Deemed to be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects; and

● The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has a special role under
international humanitarian law. The Geneva Conventions stipulate that it will visit
prisoners, organize relief operations, contribute to family reunification and
conduct a range of humanitarian activities during international armed conflicts.
They also allow it to offer these services in non-international armed conflicts. The
International Committee of the Red Cross has a recognized role in the
interpretation of international humanitarian law and is charged with working
towards its faithful application in armed conflicts, taking cognizance of breaches
of that law and contributing to the understanding, dissemination and
development of the law.

Current State of Affairs

Syria's new government, led by Ahmed al-Sharaa, is a de facto administration that
emerged following the collapse of Bashar al-Assad's regime in December 2024. It
has taken significant steps to stabilize the country and rebuild its institutions
amidst an ongoing humanitarian crisis. To establish a legal framework for
governance during this transitional period, the government ratified the 2025
Interim Constitution of Syria, officially known as the Constitutional Declaration of
the Syrian Arab Republic, on March 13, 2025. This provisional constitution
outlines the separation of powers, includes mechanisms for transitional justice,
and aims to rebuild trust among Syria's diverse communities. However, it has
faced criticism for concentrating executive power in the hands of the president
during the transition.
While the recognition of the current government multilaterally remains an issue
with the problem of Al Sharaa being a listed terrorist in my states.

Key Players In The Crisis

~The Syrian crisis involves a complex web of armed players, including
domestic factions and foreign powers. Here are the key groups:
1. Pro-Government Forces:
o Syrian Arab Army (SAA): The official military of Syria.
o National Defence Forces (NDF): A militia supporting the
government.
o Allies: Hezbollah (Lebanon), Iran's Islamic Revolutionary
Guard Corps (IRGC), and Russian military forces and
Wagener Group.
 2. Opposition and Insurgent Forces:
o Syrian National Army (SNA)(Remnants of FSA): A coalition
of rebel groups backed by Turkey.
o Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS): A former al-Qaeda affiliate
controlling parts of northwest Syria.
o Islamic State (ISIS): Though significantly weakened,
remnants still operate in some areas.
3. Kurdish Forces:
o Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF): A coalition led by the
Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG), supported by the
U.S.

UN RESOLUTIONS Pertaining to the Crisis

- Resolution 2118 (2013): Mandated the elimination of Syria’s chemical

weapons program following the deadly sarin gas attack in Ghouta

- Resolution 2401 (2018): Demanded a cessation of hostilities in Syria

- Resolution 2585 (2021)*: Renewed the mandate for cross-border

humanitarian aid delivery

- Resolution 2672 (2023)*: Extended authorization for the Syria cross-border

aid mechanism

Transitional Justice
Transitional justice is a critical process for societies emerging from
conflict or authoritarian rule. It seeks to address past human rights
violations through a combination of measures such as truth-seeking,
criminal accountability, reparations, and institutional reforms. By
documenting atrocities and holding perpetrators accountable,
transitional justice aims to provide justice for victims and ensure non-
repetition of abuses. It also plays a key role in fostering reconciliation,
rebuilding trust among divided communities, and promoting inclusivity
to lay the foundation for lasting peace and stability. When effectively
implemented, it transforms societies by reinforcing the rule of law and
restoring dignity to survivors.

Valid sources to substantiate

Evidence must be derived from credible sources such as:

• State-operated news agencies (e.g., BBC, Al Jazeera, Xinhua)

• Government reports (Ministries of Health, Women’s Rights, etc.)

• United Nations reports (e.g., UN Women, UNHRC, WHO)

• Multilateral organizations (e.g., World Bank, Amnesty International)

• Academic journals and peer-reviewed publications

Note: Wikipedia, opinion-based articles, and unverified sources will not be
considered valid proof.