October 16-22, 2018
The Syrian Civic Platform (SCP) held its seventh official meeting on November 16-22, 2018. The meeting was attended by the 26 members of the National Committee representing 13 local platforms in Syria and in neighboring countries, as well as members of the Executive Secretariat. Members joined the meeting online from several places inside Syria and in the neighboring countries.
During the meeting, the members of the National Committee and the Executive Secretariat discussed the achievements and the impact of activities conducted in the previous period as well as organizational matters related to procedures and mechanisms, and the best methods for the sustainability of the SCP’s work. They also discussed the issues of Syrian refugees and IDPs, as well as detainees and forced disappearance. In addition, they developed concepts and scenarios to develop and advocate for these issues at the Syria national level and at international levels, and reviewed the plan of action.
During this time, training attended by members of the SCP’s National Committee and the Executive Secretariat participated in a training. The training focused on developing sustainable mechanisms, as well as on strengthening the structure of alliances on the most important issues that the SCP intended to advocate, through preparing messages and recommendations for these issues at the local and national levels.
The National Committee’s seventh meeting ended with a final session with high-level representatives of several influential countries on the Syrian issue. Discussions at this session focused on the reports recently published by the SCP: Arbitrary Arrests and Enforced Disappearances and Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPS). The final session also focused on how to increase pressure on the Government of Syria to stop arrests and to reveal the fate of Syrian detainees.
Furthermore, the members of the SCP called on those present not to be deceived by the Government of Syria and its Russian ally regarding the return of refugees, and they stressed on the necessity for voluntary and safe return of refugees and the need to prioritize and provide a safe environment for IDPs to return to their areas.
