Side event to Brussels V Conference

Syrian civil society remains an important part of the international discussions taking place on the future of Syria. In the context of the Brussels Conference on Supporting the Future of Syria and the Region and for the fifth year in a row, the UN Office of the Special Envoy for Syria (UN OSE-S) and the European External Action Service (EEAS) convened a side event of the Civil Society Support Room (CSSR), held between 23 and 30 March, aimed at providing a space for advocacy by Syrian civil society towards international actors.

Some thirty Syrian civil society actors, half of whom are women, have been engaged in intensive discussions with the UN Special Envoy for Syria and his team, with EEAS officials, and other relevant international actors. Discussions centered around their priorities, concerns, and recommendations concerning a range of issues from humanitarian, to livelihoods, to human rights and to support a peaceful resolution to the Syrian crisis. The side event culminated in a meeting between the Syrian participants and the UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir O. Pedersen and the High Representative/Vice-President of the European Commission Josep Borrell, as well as a video-message from the participants that was broadcast during the Ministerial segment of the Brussels Conference on 30 March. The key messages from the participants can be found on this page.