In a new step towards promoting pathways for justice and peace, the Rights Defense Initiative organized the sixth dialogue session of the “Together for Social Peace and Community Cohesion” project on October 18th in Damascus. The session brought together representatives, human rights activists, and individuals concerned with issues of justice, social peace, and community cohesion from the governorates of Daraa, As-Suwayda, and Al-Quneitra, alongside a number of active human rights and civil society figures.
The session aimed to shed light on the challenges facing local communities in southern Syria and the repercussions of conflict and division they have endured. It focused on the importance of dialogue as a unifying pathway to restore trust, mend the social fabric, and consecrate the principles of justice and human rights.
Participants discussed three main themes central to the project: social peace, transitional justice, and the role of media and social media platforms in promoting community cohesion.
The interventions emphasized that building sustainable peace cannot be achieved without genuine transitional justice that guarantees the rights of victims and restores the standing of the individual as the cornerstone of any transformation process. Attendees also stressed the importance of involving local communities in shaping the path towards justice and accountability, which would rebuild trust between citizens and institutions and ensure that violations are not repeated.
In a related context, the discussions addressed the vital role media can play as a bridge for dialogue and rapprochement, countering the risk of it becoming a tool for spreading hatred or misinformation. Participants unanimously agreed on the necessity of adopting a responsible media discourse that supports peace efforts and contributes to building a societal awareness based on tolerance and mutual respect.
The session provided an interactive space for the exchange of expertise and experiences among the people of southern Syria, reflecting a genuine desire to overcome divisions and promote a culture of coexistence, grounded in the values of justice, citizenship, and equality in rights and duties.
In conclusion, the participants affirmed that the continuation of such sessions is a necessary step to entrench dialogue as a tool for positive change and to build a more cohesive and equitable society, where the individual—regardless of background or affiliation—is both the goal and the means in the journey towards sustainable justice and peace.