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- Transitional justice represents the cornerstone for achieving civil peace and restoring trust among the components of Syrian society.
- Building the new Syria requires involving the people in shaping their future and establishing a state based on citizenship, justice, and human dignity.
- Creating psychological support centers across Syria can provide counseling and therapeutic services for those affected by the conflict.
The Syrian people triumphed in their revolution, and the Assad regime collapsed, taking with it decades of oppression and tyranny, allowing the sun of freedom to shine over Syria. This historic event is not just the end of a tyrant who ruled with fire and iron, but the beginning of a historical era in which Syrians reclaim their usurped homeland and their dream of a free country that accommodates everyone. After many long years of killing, repression, detention, destruction, and displacement, the Syrian people stand after their victory before a rare opportunity to shape their future with the hands of their children, armed with an indomitable will and an unbreakable hope.
However, this victory is not the final station; rather, it is the first step towards building the Syria that everyone dreams of—a state based on justice, freedom, and dignity. The stakes are high, the challenges immense, and the wounds deep, yet hope is greater, and will is stronger.
First: The Psychological and Social Legacy in the Post-Assad Era:
Syrians lived under Assad’s rule for decades, during which the culture of terror and fear became the primary tool of authority to tighten control and oppression. This regime utilized all forms of repression, from arbitrary arrests and enforced disappearances to brutal torture and constant surveillance, leading to a breakdown of trust among community members. During the Syrian revolution (2011-2024), this repression reached its peak, as the regime responded to the people's uprising with excessive violence, mass killings, arrests, and displacement. As a result, hundreds of thousands of families were displaced, finding themselves homeless, either in refugee camps or scattered within Syria and abroad. This long war not only destroyed infrastructure but also tore apart social support networks, leaving millions of Syrians suffering from displacement and deprivation.
This devastating war has left a heavy psychological legacy on Syrians, as many today suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), chronic anxiety, and depression, along with increasing mental and psychological disorders. On the social level, the fabric of Syrian society has been disrupted due to family disintegration, the demographic changes resulting from forced displacement, and the rise of sectarian, regional, and political divisions. This heavy legacy requires exceptional efforts to rebuild the Syrian individual, alongside the reconstruction of the war-torn homeland.
Secondly: Building a new Syria free from the legacy of oppression:
Removing the psychological and social effects of the Assad era requires a comprehensive and integrated strategy. It relies on a political, intellectual, and social approach that addresses the roots of the crisis and establishes the foundations of justice and reconciliation. This goal can only be achieved through multiple paths that combine institutional reform, community initiatives, and national consensus, while benefiting from the experiences of countries that have overcome similar conflicts.
- Transitional Justice:
Transitional justice constitutes the cornerstone for achieving civil peace and restoring trust among the components of Syrian society. This requires holding accountable those responsible for the crimes and serious violations committed during the years of conflict to ensure they are not repeated, prioritizing the rights of victims and restoring their dignity.
- Support for Mental Health:
Rebuilding the Syrian individual necessitates placing mental health at the forefront of national priorities. Establishing mental health support centers throughout Syria can provide counseling and therapeutic services for those affected by the conflict, with a focus on training specialized local staff to ensure the sustainability of these efforts. Providing psychological support to survivors in cities, villages, and camps is an integral part of the social reconstruction process. These steps are not merely addressing the effects of the past but investing in building the future of Syria.
- Promoting Education and Awareness:
Education is the most powerful tool for erasing the effects of tyranny and establishing values of tolerance and coexistence. This requires developing new educational curricula that focus on respecting human rights, promoting citizenship values, and community building, inspired by prophetic morals of forgiveness and mercy when possible. Awareness programs aimed at parents should be launched to encourage them to play a positive role in rebuilding the diverse social and religious fabric. Curricula that reinforce concepts of citizenship and cultural diversity should be adopted to raise generations capable of overcoming the past and building the future.
- Rebuilding Trust:
Rebuilding trust among Syrians represents a significant challenge, but it is essential for creating a stable homeland. This can be achieved through local initiatives such as reconciliation committees and cultural activities that foster closeness and dialogue among community segments, contributing to calming souls and alleviating the pain rooted in decades of injustice and divisions. Although these efforts may take a long time to heal the wounds, they represent a necessary step to reconstruct national unity.
- Empowering Women and Youth:
Women and youth are the most affected groups by the war, but they also hold the key to the future. Reconstruction efforts must include empowering them by providing opportunities for participation in decision-making and development programs. Supporting small projects and providing vocational training can contribute to their economic and social empowerment. The experience of South Africa in empowering women and youth serves as a model, as these groups played a crucial role in enhancing community development. Syria can adopt similar steps to support marginalized groups and integrate them into the reconstruction process, contributing to building a cohesive society and a sustainable economy.
- Working on reconciliation between sectarian and ethnic components:
Sectarian tensions and ethnic divisions that have been exacerbated by the war in Syria require comprehensive and serious treatment. This can be achieved through launching national dialogue forums that bring together leaders from different communities, aiming to enhance understanding and build bridges of new relationships based on mutual respect. These efforts should include practical steps, such as organizing meetings between elites, local leaders, religious institutions, and social organizations, in addition to enhancing the role of media in spreading a culture of coexistence and rebuilding national unity.
- Benefiting from human experiences:
International experiences provide important insights for Syria in its transitional phase. In post-World War II Germany, "re-education" programs were launched that focused on enhancing democratic values and respecting human rights. Alongside integrating war survivors into civilian life through training and vocational rehabilitation programs, in Bosnia, programs for reintegrating soldiers and civilians affected by the war contributed to strengthening societal cohesion. This is a step that Syria can benefit from to rehabilitate individuals who are psychologically and socially affected and to provide job opportunities that contribute to supporting the economy and building a cohesive society.
- Building a free Syria:
The dawn of freedom that is rising over Syria represents the beginning of a new era filled with hope and challenges, but it holds tremendous potential to transform this ancient country into a model of revival and recovery. Constructing a new Syria requires the involvement of the Syrian people in shaping their future and establishing a state based on citizenship, justice, and human dignity—free from the legacy of tyranny and exclusion. While attention is directed towards physical reconstruction, the priority remains on addressing psychological and social wounds and building a cohesive and tolerant society. Erasing the scars of the Assad era is essential for building a homeland that accommodates everyone, a homeland that restores Syria's civilizational role and becomes a beacon of hope, dignity, and justice.
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