The morning of Eid al-Adha, Syrians wake hoping for an end to the bloodshed that has relentlessly persisted for the past five years. The cessation of hostilities agreement is a necessary step toward achieving peace and security. To achieve the Syrian people’s aspirations of stopping the violence, the Syrian Civil Society Platform (SCP) sees the US-Russia agreement on a cessation of hostilities as an opening, which may give way to a full ceasefire across Syria. Further, SCP sees the agreement as an opportunity to improve the conditions of civilians through the halt in killing, suspension of barrel bombing, lifting of the siege, and expanded access to humanitarian assistance.
SCP affirms the importance of an international common understanding and agreement to reduce violence in Syria, with the following stipulations. The agreement should:
- Lead to the development of a sustainable ceasefire, which will help facilitate the political transition and long-term peace in Syria.
- Mandate active and meaningful inclusion of civil society organizations—particularly women’s organizations, humanitarian organizations, and local councils—in the planning and implementation of this and future agreements noting they are some of the most affected and influential Syrian actors.
- Extend to include foreign militias, which are fighting alongside the Syrian government. Their omission releases foreign militias of a commitment to abide by the agreed upon parameters.
- Specify the consequences for any party that breaks the truce.
- Specify the details of humanitarian aid delivery plans, including the importance of: medical aid, consistent deliveries, and sufficient quantities for all civilians.
- Prioritize the protection of all civilians and the improvement of living conditions.
- Distinguish between the humanitarian and political components of the agreement; the basic humanitarian needs of the Syrian people should not be politicized.
The Syrian Civil Society Platform encourages commitment by all parties to view adherence to the truce as a necessity. In order to increase the success of the cessation of hostilities agreement and advance the political process, the Platform calls for all actors involved to take into consideration the points outlined in this statement.
The Syrian Civil Society Platform is a group of elected women and men who represent 14 local platforms – 11 located in provinces inside Syria and three in neighboring refugee communities. The Platform focuses on creating participatory, inclusive mechanisms at the local level in Syrian communities and connecting those to the national level, with the intent to activate dialogue on issues that are crucial to a negotiated.
