Much important work has already been done by other actors – both Syrian and international – to address the crisis of missing persons in Syria. The resolution establishing the Institution called for it to work ‘in close cooperation and complementarity with all relevant actors,’ and listed non-duplication as a key principle guiding its work. 

The Institution will complement others’ work and cooperate closely with them to avoid duplication and to take advantage of existing expertise. In this context, structured information sharing is essential for the effective search for missing persons. Many institutions and NGOs already hold valuable data, and establishing interconnected systems or frameworks for data exchange will be critical to maximize impact and ensure coordinated efforts. This approach is also important within a victim-centred approach to reduce the risk of re-traumatization, including through repeated documentation of missing persons’ cases. 

The Independent Institution’s founding resolution calls on all relevant actors, and in particular all those within the UN system, to cooperate fully with the Independent Institution. The Independent Institution is currently in discussions with many relevant actors in pursuit of cooperation to deliver its mandate.