On 23 October 2023, the Swiss Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York hosted a roundtable focused on the role of Syrian civil society in the peace process in Syria. Attended by members of the UN Security Council and several participants from the Civil Society Support Room (CSSR), this event highlighted civil society’s evolving role in addressing the complex challenges faced in Syria. Special Envoy Pedersen as the keynote speaker welcomed the CSSR participants as partners of OSE-Syria in the promotion of Syrian-owned and Syrian-led lasting political solution, adding that civil society actors were key to building an inclusive political process that meets the legitimate aspirations of all Syrians.
CSSR representatives briefed on the essential and diverse work of Syrian civil society organizations, spanning from emergency humanitarian response to addressing conflict-related issues and peace-building initiatives. They emphasized the importance of rebuilding national identity, fostering social cohesion, and improving governance amidst a challenging environment marked by political stagnation, military presence, and funding difficulties. They emphasized the CSSR’s pivotal role in fostering cross-conflict dialogue, building trust, and enhancing collaborative capabilities.
Security Council members engaged actively with CSSR representatives, exploring ways to support local reconciliation in Syria’s diverse areas of control and discussing the urgent need for a political solution in line with UN Resolution 2254. Participants noted the critical role of early recovery initiatives to reconnect divided regions and foster inclusivity. They also addressed the refugee protection crisis in Lebanon and ways to support Syrians affected by new refugee inflows, highlighting conditions for safe and dignified returns.
This roundtable underscored the ongoing importance of civil society in the Syrian peace process and the need for sustained international support for local, inclusive reconciliation efforts.
The OSE-Syria CSSR is funded through contributions from Switzerland as well as the EU, Germany and Denmark through the Syria Peace Initiative (SPI).