Why it Matters:
Yesterday, Syrian civil society representatives arrived at the peace talks in Geneva to make clear that all parties to the conflict must prioritize the needs of Syrians inside Syria. With Syria’s ceasefire fraying amidst numerous violations by Russia and the Syrian regime, civil society groups warned that the indiscriminate violence against civilians must stop in order for the talks to succeed. The groups elaborated specific demands, including impartial ceasefire monitoring with credible consequences for violators, guaranteed humanitarian access, the release of arbitrarily-held detainees and accountability for all perpetrators of war crimes.