We are delighted to announce that Synergy’s Executive Director, Izzadin Saleh, has been appointed to the inaugural Advisory Board of the Independent Institution on Missing Persons in Syria, established by the United Nations. He will serve alongside a distinguished group of victims’ representatives, members of Syrian civil society, and international experts. We would like to extend our warmest congratulations to Mr. Saleh on this well-deserved recognition and wish him every success in his new role
Synergy Association for Victims welcomes this announcement as a crucial step toward ensuring the meaningful participation of victims and their families in the work of the Institution. We view the selection of Izzadin as a recognition of his long-standing commitment to defending victims’ rights, documenting their suffering, and his unwavering insistence that their voices remain at the heart of efforts for truth and justice.
We wish him—along all members of the Advisory Board—every success in their mission to serve the cause of the missing and forcibly disappeared and to advance justice in Syria.
PRESS RELEASE: The Independent Institution on Missing Persons in Syria Announces the Composition of First Advisory Board
3 September 2025 – Geneva, Switzerland
Families of the missing and civil society were at the forefront of efforts to establish the Independent Institution on Missing Persons in the Syrian Arab Republic, and their role remains crucial going forward. In this light, the Independent Institution is pleased to announce the members of its first Advisory Board.
The Board is one of several means to ensure the active and meaningful participation of family members of the missing, survivors, and civil society in the Institution’s work. It provides a channel for the Independent Institution to seek advice and views from Syrian and international experts.
The Independent Institution received over 250 applications, demonstrating exceptional breadth, diversity, and strength. The selection of the Board was guided by a transparent and participatory process. An open call for applications was issued in both Arabic and English, inviting nominations and self-nominations from across victim communities, civil society and other expert circles. All applications were carefully and thoroughly reviewed to ensure that the final composition of the Board reflects a wide range of expertise, experiences and perspectives.
In recognition of the outstanding quality of all applications received, the Institution expanded the Board from nine to eleven members. The appointed members are:
- In the Victims category: Riyad Avlar, Momina Al-Haj Ali, Wasel Hamideh, Yasmeen Al-Meshaan, Fadwa Mahmoud, and Izzadin Saleh.
- In the Syrian Civil Society category: Jalal Al-Hamad, Oula Al-Sheikh Hasan, and Joumana Seif.
- In the International Experiences category: Hanny Megally and Mercedes Salado Puerto.
“The establishment of the Advisory Board marks a significant step in ensuring that the voices of families, survivors, and civil society are not only heard but actively support the Institution’s efforts. We are deeply honoured by the trust placed in us through this process and remain committed to transparency, inclusivity, and accountability in our mission,” said Karla Quintana, Head of the Independent Institution.
Board Members will serve non-renewable four-year terms. The Institution extends its sincere appreciation to all nominees and looks forward to engaging with many of them through other opportunities for participation, including potential future service on the Board.
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.
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To read the full press release, click here.
For more about the biographies of the Board members, click here.