At a news conference at UN headquarters in New York on Wednesday, Quintana warned that time is running out to find the hundreds of thousands who went missing during decades of brutality, oppression and forced disappearances.
“The missing persons crisis in Syria affects not only hundreds of thousands of families, but entire communities throughout Syrian society. Addressing this requires mobilizing all available skills, resources and capabilities..”
The U.N. official said the foundation she runs was born from the insistence of Syrian families to discover the truth about what happened to their loved ones and their belief that some will rise again.
Collective effort
“Everyone in Syria knows someone who has disappeared,” Quintana emphasized, adding that no one can take on this urgent task alone.
“No one can morally take responsibility for not using everything that is ready and available for use in Syria.. “Time is of the essence and comparative experience must be taken into account.”
A path to justice
In an interview this week with UN NewsThe Under-Secretary-General – who took office last December – stressed that the search must be Syrian-led and internationally supported, driven by the families who have long fought to learn the truth about their loved ones; and expressed his particular admiration for the strength shown by Syrian women.
“Clarifying the fate of the missing is not only a matter of personal closure, but also a cornerstone of Syria’s path towards justice, reconciliation and reform”he told us.