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After Decades of Prevention.. International Accountability Reaches Syria
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The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights' visit to Damascus reflects a radical shift in dealing with human rights issues after the fall of the central regime

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, arrived in the Syrian capital Damascus on Tuesday, in a historic first-of-its-kind visit to the country.
The United Nations stated in its announcement that Türk, the Austrian lawyer, will conduct a tour including Syria and Lebanon from January 14 to 16, where he will hold meetings with officials, civil society representatives, diplomats, and international organization bodies.
This visit comes following the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad's regime in a surprise attack last month, ending five decades of family authoritarian rule, which has opened the door for accountability of those responsible for crimes committed during the civil war that lasted more than 13 years.
The previous regime's authorities imposed strict restrictions on the entry of international organization officials and human rights organizations to investigate alleged violations, in a policy that reflected its absolute rejection of international accountability.
So far, Türk's office spokesman has not disclosed the number of previous attempts made by him or his predecessors to reach Syria, under a position that was created in 1993.
Observers view this visit as a fundamental shift in dealing with the human rights file in Syria, and an important step toward revealing the truth and achieving justice for victims.
Levant-Agencies
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BENEFIT Sponsors BuildHer...
- April 23, 2025
BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”
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