Civil society organizations have issued an open request for the international community to support the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) and help it complete its mission.
In a letter addressed to countries and donors around the world, the organizations called for the funding of the STL, stressing their commitment to unveiling the truth and achieving justice and accountability regarding the assassinations that Lebanon had witnessed, as well as the August 4 Beirut explosion.
“There are still thousands of victims in Lebanon who have not known justice, while many cases remain pending and the culture of impunity continues,” the letter read.
It called upon the international community to reaffirm its commitment to the pursuit of justice by providing the necessary resources for the STL to fulfill its mandate.
The letter also addressed the STL, urging it to resume its work quickly and efficiently, deeming it “the only way currently available to achieve any justice in Lebanon,” and warning of the “devastating” impact of the suspension of its work on the people awaiting justice.
“While those affected by the assassinations and other attacks that took place in various parts of Lebanon – as well as those affected by the Beirut explosion – continue to demand justice, the international community should not squander their hopes of uncovering the truth and achieving justice and accountability.”
The call was jointly issued by Adyan Foundation, Forum for Memory and Future, Lebanese Center for Defending Public Interest, Let’s Work for the Missing, Permanent Peace Movement, Umam Documentation and Research, Lebanese Institute for Democracy and Human Rights (LIFE), and several other organizations.
The initiative comes after the STL announced the cancelation of the Salim Ayyash trial due to a funding shortage, with a recent report indicating that it might close down after July if the financial problem persists.
