Thank you, Chair.

We thank Colombia, Denmark, Luxembourg and Syria for convening this meeting today and the briefers for their contributions.

Syria’s path to lasting reconciliation hinges on accountability.

This generational task for Syria requires political will, sustained civil society participation, and a clear, comprehensive strategy

backed by expertise and supported by the UN and its Member States.

Germany welcomes Syria commitment to transitional justice,

and to addressing the painful issue of the missing.

The holding of the inaugural session of the People's Assembly

is a key milestone towards adopting the transitional justice law.

We stand firmly behind the UN’s efforts in support of the Syrian-led, Syrian-owned process.

In this regard I would like to make three short remarks.

First,

Germany remains committed to supporting the transitional justice process.

Already before the fall of the Assad regime, Germany provided three to four million Euros annually to UN and NGO-implemented justice and accountability efforts.

We have since expanded our cooperation with Syrian authorities

and we stand ready to continue supporting the national commissions, including through capacity-building and exchanges with German institutions such as the archives of the former East German Secret Police.

In this respect, we welcome the constructive cooperation between the National Commission for Transitional Justice and the UN Team of Experts on the Rule of Law and Sexual Violence in Conflict.

This will help ensure an inclusive, survivor-centered process responsive to CRSV.

Second,

we note that the first trials for crimes of the Assad regime are now underway.

We encourage Syria to involve in this challenging process the UN mechanisms and international bodies such as ICMP and the ICRC.

We hope that IIIM and IIMP will be granted full access, including through establishing local offices.

Third, and finally,

justice must be delivered swiftly, effectively, and impartially to all, regardless of the victim’s or the perpetrator’s identity. Survivors, victims, and their families must be at the center of this process.

They must be able to participate meaningfully and receive the required support.

To this end, transparent and coordinated information-sharing among national and international actors is critically important.