31 October 2025 - Istanbul, Türkiye

A high-level session titled “Syria’s New Dawn: Charting a Course for Reconstruction and Stability” took place on 31 October 2025 as part of the TRT World Forum in Istanbul, Türkiye. The panel featured: H.E. Hamzah Almustafa, Syrian Minister of Information, Ms. Houda Atassi, Co-founder and Chairwoman of International Humanitarian Relief, Assistant Secretary-General Karla Quintana, Head of the Independent Institution on Missing Persons in Syria, and Professor Talha Köse (Ph.D.), President of the Turkish National Intelligence Academy.

The session explored Syria’s complex journey toward recovery, emphasizing the interconnected pillars of stabilisation, reconciliation, and reconstruction. Speakers examined the multifaceted challenges facing the country and proposed strategies and solutions aimed at helping Syria emerge as a stable, prosperous state that actively contributes to regional security and cooperation.

A central theme was the search for Syria’s missing persons, which was powerfully addressed by Assistant Secretary-General Karla Quintana, who stated:

“The search for Syria’s missing is not only a humanitarian imperative, it is a collective moral obligation. Truth is the foundation of reconciliation, and reconciliation is the path to lasting peace. Lasting peace is not a luxury; it is a necessity for reconstruction.”

Along the lines of the Forum, Quintana clarified that "The Institution is currently investigating forcible disappearances by the former regime, missing children placed in orphanages by security services—the so-called “security placements”—as well as disappearances by Da’esh, missing migrants and asylum seekers, and new disappearances post-December 2024. This does not mean that we are not working on other disappearances." She also confirmed, "Within this work, we have information indicating that some of the missing children may still be alive, and we also have information about women who went missing may have been victims of sexual slavery or human trafficking."

The Forum also underscored the vital role of independent media in shaping public discourse and promoting transparency, as well as the significant contributions of civil society organizations in driving grassroots change. In addition, speakers highlighted the importance of robust institution-building and the establishment of effective governance frameworks as cornerstones of Syria’s sustainable recovery.

About the Independent Institution: The Independent Institution is a UN entity established by the General Assembly on 29 June 2023 in response to the urgent calls for action from family members of Syria’s thousands of missing persons to determine their fate and whereabouts. The Independent Institution’s founding resolution mandates it to clarify the fate and whereabouts of all missing persons in Syria and provide adequate support to the families of those missing.