The Hague, December 4, 2024 – A side event titled “Redeeming the ICMandate: Possibility for Referring the Situation in Syria Under Article XIV” was held today in the Antarctica Hall of the World Forum in The Hague. This event took place on the sidelines of the 23rd session of the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC).
The event was co-organized by the Syrian Forum, the Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression (SCM), the Atlantic Council (AC), and Legal Action Worldwide (LAW). Discussions focused on the critical role the ICC could play in addressing crimes committed in Syria, emphasizing the importance of referring the Syrian situation under Article 14 of the Rome Statute.
The session featured a distinguished panel of experts:
• Stephen J. Rapp: Lawyer and Former United States ambassador-at-large for war crimes issues in the Office of Global Criminal Justice
• Haydee DIJKSTAL: Barrister, Head of International Law at 33 Bedford Row Chambers and Nonresident senior fellow with the Atlantic Council
• Nick Leddy: Head of litigation at Legal Action Worldwide (LAW), and former ICC OTP Human rights & Intl Criminal Law; prosecution Lawyer
• Jörn Oliver Eiermann: Legal Officer, Special Assistant to the Head of International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism (IIIM Syria)
• Yaser Tabbara: Lawyer, Co-Founder and Chief Strategist of the Syrian Forum – United States (SF-USA)
The session was moderated by Sally Shobut, Advocacy officer at the Syrian Forum.
The discussions underscored the urgent need for decisive action by the ICC, with participants warning that continued impunity in Syria threatens not only the rights of Syrian victims but also the credibility of the ICC and the future of international justice. The critical role of the IIIM in supporting the ICC through comprehensive and reliable evidence to enable effective and transparent investigations was also highlighted.
Yaser Tabbara, Co-Founder and Head of Chief Strategist at the Syrian Forum, stated:
“Justice is the cornerstone of any sustainable resolution to the Syrian crisis, and it is also key to rebuilding trust between victims and the international legal system. Referring the Syrian situation to the ICC is a necessary step to address the heinous crimes affecting millions of Syrians, including systematic torture, killings, and enforced disappearances.
These crimes cannot go unpunished, and the ICC must serve as the venue where perpetrators are held accountable. We are at a pivotal moment. The State Parties have a historic responsibility to intervene and refer the Syrian situation. Failure to take this step would leave the door open to impunity, undermining the foundations of international justice and compounding victims’ suffering.”
He added:
“What we need today is not just legal action but also political and diplomatic cooperation to mobilize State Parties in support of this referral. The international community must demonstrate that international justice is not just a slogan but an effective tool for accountability and ending human suffering.”
Participants also discussed optimal strategies to ensure a comprehensive referral, covering not only forced displacement crimes but all major crimes committed in Syria to achieve holistic justice. They emphasized the critical role of civil society in documenting crimes and contributing to building strong legal cases that could be presented before the ICC.
The importance of this event comes amidst escalating reports of attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure, including hospitals and residential neighborhoods in the Idlib and Aleppo governorates of northern Syria. These incidents highlight the urgent need for international action to halt these crimes and hold those responsible accountable.
This event marked a significant step toward rallying international support for efforts to ensure accountability and justice in Syria. Participants called on State Parties to fulfill their responsibilities and work collectively to refer the Syrian situation to the ICC, reflecting a genuine commitment to human rights and the rule of law.
Syrian Forum – USA (SF-USA)
