The International Bar Association's Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI), the University of Lancaster's Sectarianism, Proxies and De-sectarianisation (SEPAD) project and the Foreign Policy Centre will host a roundtable on the situation in the Syrian Arab Republic on Tuesday 9 September 2025 from 1700 - 1830 at the United Kingdom Parliament's House of Lords. IBAHRI Director and Member of the House of Lords, Baroness Helena Kennedy LT KC, will chair the discussion.
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Space is limited at this in-person event. Registration is essential for attendance.
Speakers participating at the roundtable event 'Syria's transition nine months on: Examining frameworks for international justice and accountability' include:
- Fadel Abdulghany, Founder and Executive Director, Syrian Network for Human Rights
- Sana Kikhia, Executive Director, Syrian Legal Development Programme (SLDP)
- Dr Maria Kastrinou, Senior Lecturer in Anthropology, Brunel University of London
- Alan Haji, Lead for Case Building, Syrian Justice and Accountability Centre
- Mariana Karkoutly, Co-Founder and Board Member, Huquqyat
- Professor Simon Mabon, Chair in International Politics, Lancaster University and Director of the SEPAD project
The roundtable aims to take stock of where things now stand in Syria with a focus on the development of mechanisms for international justice and accountability. Parliamentarians, legal and policy experts, Syrian civil society representatives and academics will address key questions, including:
- How can justice be delivered for victims and survivors of the atrocities of the Assad regime?
- What role should the UK and the international community play in supporting democratic institutions?
- What are the prospects for long-term peace and governance in Syria?
In December 2024, a coalition of armed opposition groups led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) overthrew the government of Bashar al-Assad, marking the end of over 50 years of the Assad family's rule in Syria. The country has now entered a pivotal phase of transition, with an interim five-year constitution in place and a new government led by interim President, Ahmed al-Sharaa.
On 27 July, it was announced that the first parliamentary elections under the new authorities would be held between 15-20 September 2025. The situation in Syria remains fragile, with severe economic and humanitarian challenges and ongoing mass displacement continuing to cause strain as the country seeks to rebuild.
