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The SJAC Weekly Update- April 9, 2013

Sectarianism, transition, and unity

The Syrian uprising isincreasingly portrayed as aconflict with significant ethnic

dimensions. The LA Timesrecently featured a storyabout Sunni rebels targetingtheir Shiite neighbors. Other divides exist along political,regional, and class lines.

Avoiding future sectarian conflict and fostering inclusive nationalunity are goals best achieved through transitional justicemechanisms that have evolved into recognized tools for good.

Ethnic determinism is a dangerous and counterproductive way toview the Syrian conflict. To assume that all fault lines mirror ethnicdivisions misses opportunities for cooperation and exacerbatesexisting tensions. As Bashar Al Assad is all too familiar, invokingethnic narratives can even create ethnic divides on issues wherenone exist and generate self-fulfilling prophecies. But however ethnic tensions have been constructed and manipulated, they doexist in Syria today. Some Shiites fear their Sunni neighbors just assome Alawites fear retribution for perceived loyalty to Al Assad.

Given the prominence of ethnic divisions, some see transitional justice

efforts as naively irrelevant right now. How can anyone imagineaccountability processes at a time when rebel groups compete for

influence and factionionalism plagues opposition unity? Admittedly, the

particulars of any processes hinge on the post-conflict power structure

and the desires of the Syrian people. Nonetheless, there is work to be

done now. Syrian groups can outline their commitments to accountability,

articulate support for potential transitional justice mechanisms, and

emphasize their adherence to wartime codes of conduct . When words are

Tra nsitional Justi ce Strategy Meeti ng for Syria

On April 13 and 14, the SJACwill hos t the Transitional

Justice Strategy Meeting for Syria in Istanbul, Turkey, withsupport f rom PILPG and USIP.The meet ing will bring together internati onal experts and key

Syrian activists to discusspreparations for accountability

and peace and develop acoordinated strategy for

transitional justice for Syria.

International Coalition of Sites

of Conscience

The SJAC is establishing an MOUwith the International Coalition of Sites of Conscience , a worldwide

network of historic sites,museums, and initiatives

dedicated to remembering paststruggles and addressing their

contemporary legacies.

ICSC seeks to ensure thatmultiple narratives from the Syrian

conflict are represented; makecertain history is accurately

remembered in thememorialization process; providecommunity-based opportunities

for reconciliation, conflictresolution, victim empowerment

and healing; and engage and trainthe media to better report on civil

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/middleeast/la-fg-0326-syria-shiites-hezbollah-20130326,0,5327323.storyhttp://blog.syriaaccountability.org/http://www.sitesofconscience.org/http://www.sitesofconscience.org/http://www.sitesofconscience.org/http://www.sitesofconscience.org/http://www.sitesofconscience.org/http://www.sitesofconscience.org/http://www.sitesofconscience.org/http://www.sitesofconscience.org/http://www.sitesofconscience.org/http://www.sitesofconscience.org/http://www.sitesofconscience.org/http://www.sitesofconscience.org/http://www.sitesofconscience.org/http://ccsdsyria.org/arabic/238http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/middleeast/la-fg-0326-syria-shiites-hezbollah-20130326,0,5327323.storyhttp://blog.syriaaccountability.org/http://syriaaccountability.org/

7/28/2019 The SJAC Weekly Update: 9 April 2013

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4/9/13 12:14 Phe SJAC Weekly Update- April 9

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backed up with actions, it helps groups to signal early on to the Syrian

people what kind of leaders they might be.

But how can such efforts help dampen sectarian divides? First, its critical

to recognize that past transitional justice efforts have been uniquely

positioned to promote harmony across ethnic and religious lines. While

not always successful, evidence-based inquiries such as truth

commissions can dispel exclusivist ethnic narratives by offering a formalvenue for airing a variety of discourses in a national forum. READMORE (Photo Credit: FreedomHouse via Flickr).

society and sites of Conscience.

Follow on Twtter @SJAC_info

The SJAC is an independent, non-political, Syrian-led, and multi-laterally supported organization that serves as a coordinating body for all actors promoting transitional justice and accountability for Syria. The SJAC provides vetted, accurate data on human rights violations occurring on all sides of the conflict in Syria. The SJAC expertise and data is used in the transitional justice process for Syria.

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Copyright 2013 Syria Justice and Accountability Centre, All rights reserved.

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