“Every time we go to Damascus, we can see the change.”
The OHCHR, which was prevented from operating inside Syria for many years, now has a team permanently deployed in Damascus. For Al Nsour, this marks an important turning point after a long period of monitoring human rights conditions remotely from Beirut.
“The previous government denied access to the OHCHR,” he recalled, speaking from Geneva. “We tried many times,” but now “it is a great advantage to be on the field,” he added.
Umayyad Mosque in Damascus, Syria.
Signs of progress
Syria continues to face a number of pressing priorities: the need to rebuild a country damaged by war, address the many remaining grievances, and achieve justice for past and present violations.
The senior official noted that insecurity also remains an alarming concern – from the northeast to Sweida – until mass killings earlier this year in coastal areas, including by members of the government security forces.
However, he insisted that the general direction is “very constructive and positive.”
“There is political will on the part of the government to improve,” he said, emphasizing the daily commitment between OHCHR and the authorities. The government has been receiving technical assistance from UN officials aimed at reforming legislation, strengthening human rights in law enforcement institutions, and improving public administration.
These measures, he said, show a commitment to a rights-based future.
He highlighted that one of the great advantages of having an office within the country is that it functions “as an advisor to the authorities.”
“We monitor, report and use advocacy to alert authorities to violations in order to prevent them. Our primary purpose and objective is not to shame and blame any government, but to prevent violations.”
symbolic change
Preparations are underway for the first celebration of Human Rights Day in Syria on December 10, just two days after one year since the fall of the Assad regime.
The event is jointly organized by OHCHR and the Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs under the theme: A human rights approach to reconstruction.
Al Nsour said the celebration will mark “a new chapter in our relationship with the Syrian government” and discussions will focus on “how to advance the human rights agenda in the new Syria.”
Responsibility and justice
For many Syrians, accountability remains critical.
Following violent incidents in the coastal region last March, authorities established a National Investigative Committee – which received important technical advice from OHCHR – and some of the perpetrators are now being tried before a national court.
Mr. Al Nsour noted that the Government also accepted the renewal of the mandate of the United Nations Commission of Inquiry, which will allow independent international investigations to continue, not only into violations committed under the Assad regime, but also since its fall.
Looking ahead, transitional justice is the priority for 2026.
“Not only is there a need for accountability,” he said, “but also truth-telling, reparations and national reconciliation.”
women’s voices
OHCHR is also supporting women-led civil society organizations and promoting greater representation of women in political institutions, particularly after the parliamentary elections, a request to which Al Nsour says authorities are becoming increasingly receptive.
At the same time, it is also empowering these organizations by training them to use advocacy to advance their cause and connecting them with international human rights mechanisms.
OCHA cross-border mission to Ma’arrat An Nu’man.
The OHCHR official emphasized that the greatest source of hope for Syria is the Syrians themselves.
“The amazing thing about Syria is the resilience of the Syrian people,” he said. “What gives hope is this incredible young generation, educated and willing to engage with the new Syria in a very positive way.”
Across the country, he noted that young people have launched grassroots initiatives, from cleaning public parks to supporting local services – small acts that rebuild a sense of community after conflict.
“They saw what happened in other countries (post-conflict situations in the region and beyond) and are doing everything they can to move in the right direction.”
A long road ahead
Financial pressures are increasing, but donors have shown “very positive signs” of increased funding for Syria, according to Al Nsour.
“There is great interest on the part of major donors to promote human rights in the new Syria,” he explained, both inside and outside the region.
Despite many obstacles, he highlighted the determination of Syrians to rebuild their country, based on human rights.
As Syrians celebrate Human Rights Day this year, perhaps the most important message is clear: progress, however fragile, is finally visible, and with it hope grows.