Damascus Hosts Rare EU-Backed "Day of Dialogue" as Syrians Push for Justice and Rebuilding

Rare Open Dialogue in Damascus Brings Syrians, EU and Transitional Authorities Together

Representatives of Syrian civil society met in Damascus on Saturday for an unusually open forum attended by officials from the European Union and Syria’s transitional government. The event, organized under the banner "The Day of Dialogue," brought together participants from across Syria’s religious and ethnic communities to address deeply sensitive issues facing the country.

The meetings mark the first time the EU-organized dialogue has been held in Damascus after previous editions took place in Brussels. The sessions come nearly a year after a dramatic offensive in early December that ended the 54-year rule of the Assad family and amid an ongoing effort to chart Syria’s political and social future.

Attendance and objectives
Michael Ohnmacht, chargé d’affaires of the EU delegation to Syria, said about 500 people representing diverse religious and ethnic groups participated. Organizers described the event as an effort to foster inclusion, address grievances and help lay the groundwork for reconstruction and transitional justice.

“The meeting that used to be held to talk about Syria is now being held in Syria,”

— Syria’s Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani, at the opening session.

Officials framed the gathering as a new partnership between the state and civil society. "Today’s dialogue is the beginning of change and rebuilding Syria only happens through partnership based on respect between the state and civil society," Social Affairs Minister Hind Kabawat said.

Key concerns raised
Sessions covered sectarian tensions, ethnic discrimination and transitional justice. Participants pressed for answers about more than 130,000 people reported missing under the previous government and raised long-standing complaints of state discrimination against Kurds. Attendees also highlighted gendered and sectarian violence, including attacks on women from minority communities.

Despite the change in leadership, violence has continued: sectarian clashes in the coastal region in March and heavy fighting in the southern province of Sweida in July, involving pro-government gunmen and members of the Druze and Alawite communities, left hundreds dead—underscoring that security and reconciliation remain urgent challenges.

Voices from civil society
Mazen Darwish, a prominent Syrian lawyer and activist who was jailed repeatedly before leaving the country, said he does not regret the fall of the Assad family but warned the future will not be automatically "rosy and great." "Today we have an opportunity in Syria and we have to take advantage of it," he said, urging participants to use the moment to build an inclusive future.

Organizers said the dialogue is a step toward greater civic participation and accountability, but participants and observers stressed that meaningful progress will require sustained inclusion, credible transitional justice mechanisms and improved security for civilians across all communities.