The National Commission for the Missing in Syria has warned families of the missing about the spread of unofficial information and documents on websites and social media pages in recent weeks that claim to have data regarding the deaths of several missing Syrians.
In a press statement on the evening of Thursday, 20 November, the Commission said that some of these documents are incorrect, while others contain real data that has been circulated publicly without the consent of the families of the missing, in a manner it described as “blackmail and exploitation” of their suffering.
The Commission stressed that any document or piece of information relating to the missing or their deaths is not considered accurate and carries no weight unless it is issued directly by the Commission itself or by entities authorized to coordinate with it within legal frameworks.
It called on families of the missing to avoid believing or sharing any information published on unofficial pages, and to refrain from sharing their personal data or family documents with any non-governmental actor. It also underlined the need to communicate directly with the Commission to verify any information concerning their loved ones, and to report any attempt at exploitation, blackmail, or publication of documents relating to them.
The Commission noted that circulating such documents constitutes an assault on families’ rights, privacy, and dignity, and leads to distorting the truth and handling a sensitive national file in illegitimate and unlawful ways. It added that it has begun legal procedures to prosecute the pages and websites publishing these documents, in coordination with the competent authorities, chiefly the Interior and Justice Ministries.
Through its statement, the Commission also announced that it is preparing to launch an online platform in the coming period to verify the authenticity of documents, enabling families to access any suspicious document and report websites that exploit the cause of the missing.
In parallel, it is working to develop its services by creating a digital platform for reporting missing persons in line with international standards, to build a national database of the missing. It is also working to prepare and open seven centers in Syrian provinces as a first stage, to provide direct communication channels with families and offer them various forms of support.
Memorandum of understanding with the International Commission
On Thursday, the National Commission for the Missing signed a new memorandum of understanding with the International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP), as part of its efforts to build a sustainable national mechanism for searching for the missing and clarifying their fate.
In a statement published on Facebook, the Commission said the memorandum aims to strengthen technical and professional cooperation within a framework that respects national sovereignty, standards of justice and transparency, and data protection, and ensures the development of Syrian experts’ capacities in criminal investigations, forensic medicine, genetic analysis, and database management.
According to the Commission, the memorandum includes training its staff in search, investigation, and identification methods in line with international standards, and developing a centralized national database for the missing, with secure access to the data previously collected by ICMP. It also provides for organizing joint workshops to enhance families’ participation in the process, and for facilitating regional and international cooperation in cases of unidentified remains and missing migrants.
The National Authority’s media adviser, Zeina Shahla, told Enab Baladi that the memorandum will enter into force immediately and that its provisions will be implemented in parallel, both in terms of benefiting from data held by the ICMP and transferring it to the National Authority for the Missing, and in terms of drawing on the organization’s expertise and experts to train Syrian staff in modern techniques, especially documentation tools and DNA and genetic fingerprinting technologies.
ICMP Director General Kathryne Bomberger said the Commission is committed to assisting the National Authority for the Missing, Syrian institutions, and families of the missing to implement a long-term, effective process to search for the missing by transferring technical expertise, providing training, and supporting an approach rooted in the rule of law.
The National Authority considered the signing of the memorandum “a key step” toward developing a national environment based on international standards, strengthening the principle of accountability, and consolidating cooperation with specialized international partners. It stressed that it will continue its “tireless” work to alleviate the suffering of families and reinforce citizens’ trust in official institutions.
On 6 November, the National Commission for the Missing in Syria announced the signing of a joint declaration of principles of cooperation with ICMP, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), and the Independent International Commission for the Missing (IIMP).
It said the step aims to support the national process to uncover the fate of all missing persons in the country, regardless of the circumstances of their disappearance or their backgrounds.
The declaration came as part of the Commission’s efforts to coordinate with specialized international organizations in a way that avoids duplication and strengthens standards of transparency and effectiveness in this humanitarian file.
National Commission for the Missing warns families about fake documents Enab Baladi.
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