On October 20, 2022, Hevdesti-Synergy Association for Victims signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the United Nations acting through the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism (IIIM) for the accountability of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Syria.
The cooperation with the IIIM aims to provide the available and accessible information and evidence on war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Syria since March 2011, in order to assist in the investigation and prosecution of persons responsible for the most serious crimes, according to the classification of International Law.
The IIM was established on December 21, 2016, by a resolution of the United Nations General Assembly entitled ‘’ the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism to Assist in the Investigation and Prosecution of Persons Responsible for the Most Serious Crimes under International Law Committed in the Syrian Arab Republic since March 2011’’, with the aim of collecting, consolidating, preserving and analyzing evidence of violations of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and violations and abuses of human rights. As well as the preparation of files to facilitate and expedite fair and independent criminal proceedings, in accordance with international law standards, in the national, regional or international courts or tribunals that have, or may in the future have jurisdiction over these crimes in accordance with International Law.
In turn, Hevdesti-Synergy Association for Victims aims to create a platform and space for victims to represent themselves and claim their rights, in an effort to seek justice for victims of the conflict in Northern and Northeastern Syria, and to contribute to the process of accountability and justice.
As a basis for all thematic strategies on inclusive justice, Hevdesti-Synergy Association and IIM jointly adopt a Victim/Survivor Centered Approach (VSCA), by committing to integrating a focus on the experiences, perspectives and priorities of the broad range of the victims/survivors of the Syrian conflict, as a core of our daily work.