On Tuesday, 23 June, from 12:30 to 14:00, we warmly invite you to join an online Lunch Talk with two colleagues from the Independent Institution on Missing Persons in Syria (IIMP).
The discussion will focus on the following topics:
- An introduction to the IIMP’s mandate and its work in Germany and internationally, including an overview of its Mental Health Policy Framework and a recent field study.
- An exchange on how the IIMP can support the work of the Psychosocial Centers, with particular attention to referral structures and community engagement.
- Experiences and questions related to supporting families of missing persons in Germany, especially in the Syrian context.
- A discussion on psychosocial work with relatives of missing persons, including the impact of ambiguous loss, prolonged uncertainty, and the specific needs of Syrian families living in Germany.
The IIMP (https://iimp.un.org/) has been mandated to clarify the fate and whereabouts of missing persons in Syria and to coordinate efforts to search for them. At the same time, the institution recognises that this process will take considerable time and that affected families in the diaspora already require legal and psychosocial support today.
As the IIMP is not itself a service provider, it is working to identify and collaborate with reliable partner organisations and support structures for families of missing persons across Europe. Some of you may already have had the opportunity to engage with the IIMP during its visits to NRW and Berlin. With this Lunch Talk, we would like to make this opportunity for exchange accessible online to all Psychosocial Centers within our network.
The Lunch Talk will be hosted by Rim El Gantri and Alia Marie, who are looking forward to an engaging and productive discussion with you.
------
The presentation will be delivered by Ms. Rim El Gantri, Chief of the Participation and Family Support Section at the IIMP. Ms. El Gantri is a transitional justice expert with extensive experience across the Middle East, North Africa, and other conflict-affected contexts. Throughout her career, she has provided strategic and technical support to truth commissions, civil society organizations, and victims' groups. Prior to joining the IIMP, she led programs for the International Center for Transitional Justice (ICTJ) in Libya, Central Africa, and Afghanistan, and previously headed ICTJ's offices in Tunisia and Nepal.
She will be joined by Ms. Alia Marie, Human Rights Officer at the IIMP. Ms. Marie has a legal and human rights background and extensive experience in protection, case management, psychosocial support, and unarmed civilian protection. She has worked in Syria, Türkiye, South Sudan, and Iraq, supporting vulnerable and conflict-affected populations. Prior to joining the IIMP, she worked closely with Syrian civil society organizations on issues relating to missing persons, victim participation, and family support.
