Action Group – Geneva
The International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism for Syria (IIIM), the UN body mandated to support investigations and accountability for serious crimes, commended the role played by the Action Group for Palestinians of Syria in supporting the course of justice following the life sentence handed down to Mahmoud Sweidan after his conviction for war crimes in Sweden.
In an official letter to the Action Group, the IIIM expressed its sincere gratitude for the information, legal materials, and support provided by the group, emphasizing that these contributions had a significant and tangible impact on supporting the Swedish authorities throughout the investigation and prosecution process, culminating in Sweidan’s conviction for crimes committed in the Yarmouk area.
The IIIM affirmed that cooperation with Syrian human rights organizations and groups is a cornerstone of efforts to prosecute perpetrators of serious international crimes, stressing the importance of continuing this coordination to promote justice, accountability, and fairness for victims.
For its part, the Action Group for Palestinians of Syria expressed its appreciation for the efforts of the International Mechanism for Human Rights (IMR) in supporting accountability mechanisms and preserving the rights of victims, commending its role in documenting crimes and promoting international justice.
The Group also affirmed its aspiration to expand cooperation with the IIIM in a way that serves humanitarian and human rights issues and contributes to supporting efforts to
hold perpetrators of grave violations accountable.
Over the past years, the Action Group has submitted 36 documents to the UN Human Rights Council, which were adopted as official documents of the Council. These documents address the situation of Palestinian detainees in Syrian prisons and the violations they have suffered.
In a related context, the Group provided information and human rights files to the immigration authorities in Denmark, the Netherlands, and Sweden, at their official request, concerning the situation of Palestinian refugees in Syria. This contributed to the issuance of positive resolutions and recommendations in favor of Palestinians from Syria in those countries.
The Action Group for Palestinians of Syria is a human rights and media organization specializing in monitoring the situation of Palestinian refugees in Syria and documenting the repercussions of the Syrian war on them since 2011, including the humanitarian, legal, and living conditions violations they have suffered. It is registered in the United Kingdom.
The group works to document daily developments on the ground related to Palestinians in Syria, prepare periodic reports and media coverage, and build a comprehensive database that includes victims, detainees, missing persons, and various violations. It also collects the necessary evidence and documents to prepare human rights cases that contribute to achieving justice and holding human rights violators accountable.