The fall of the Assad regime marks a pivotal turning point not only for Syria and Syrians, but also for Lebanon and its people, due to the shared pasts and experiences between the two countries and peoples. This moment of profound change offers Syrians and Lebanese alike the opportunity to rebuild and transform their homelands and societies on the principles of freedom, dignity, and justice. UMAM Documentation and Research (UMAM D&R), having stood as a partner in documenting and living through the suffering of Syrians and Lebanese alike while uncovering the chapters of this regime’s oppression, injustice, and aggression, extends its heartfelt congratulations on the liberation from a tyranny that employed every form of violence and cruelty to sustain its rule.

As our primary mission at UMAM D&R is to delve into the past in all its complexity, we hold a steadfast belief that documentation is a form of resistance against forgetting: a tool that makes the suppressed and painful moments of history accessible to all. This is not merely for recollection, but as materials from which lessons and meaning can be derived. 

We have devoted ourselves to preserving the dual memories of Syria and Lebanon in Memory at Work Syria and Memory at Work Lebanon, striving tirelessly to compile and present every event and fact that sheds light on the shared experiences of these peoples in times of war and peace. Memory serves as a bridge between the past, present, and future, and documentation is among the most essential means to understand history and to ensure that the tragedies of the past are not repeated.

Justice and accountability are related cornerstones of building a genuine future. It is a matter of fairness that those responsible for atrocities, and those complicit in them, are held accountable: not only to exact retribution or to restore the material and moral rights of victims, but also to guarantee that the future is built upon a foundation of justice. Justice offers the transformative power to move societies forward and prevents the recurrence of oppression and violations.

In this crucial moment of transformation in Syria, UMAM D&R reaffirms its unwavering commitment in this new chapter to documenting the past and the present, across both divergent and shared memories. We stand ready to contribute our expertise and tools to uncover and disseminate the truth, guided by our belief that critical examination of the past is the sole path to a better and more equitable future for generations to come.

Beirut, Lebanon - December 10, 2024