There has been a flurry of diplomatic activities, seeking an end to the brutal Syrian conflict that began in March 2011. Yesterday, Russian President Vladimir Putin met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani at a summit in the Russian resort town of Sochi, seeking to restart the “peace process” in Syria.

It looks like that the regime of Syrian President Bashar Al Assad — which has held on to power, thanks to the intervention from Iran, its proxies, and Russia — is here to stay for the foreseeable future. Putin also spoke to Saudi King Salman Bin Abdul Aziz and United States President Donald Trump. At the same time, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Al Jubeir told members of the Syrian opposition meeting in Riyadh yesterday that a solution to the Syrian crisis can only be found through a consensus that upholds the demands of the Syrian people.

And that is the key. No peace deal will endure without a consensus on the basics of the agreement. For the terrible wounds of this war to heal, there should be justice for the innumerable victims. Unbelievable crimes have been committed by all sides in this war — by the brutal Al Assad regime and its allies, and by extremists and sectarian militants in the opposition. But, the regime’s army and its militia allies have been responsible for the vast majority of torture, deaths and destruction. There needs to be accountability for all these crimes.

One of the most horrific aspects of the war has been the toll it has exacted among children. Not only have thousands been killed, but an entire generation has missed out on education. In their short lives, these children have seen and experienced things that no child should. They have lived under the threat of barrel bombs, shells, gas attacks and sectarian masscares. Many have now spent most of their young lives in grim refugee camps. They deserve better.

Although Russia’s intervention in 2015 saved Al Assad’s regime from collapse, a peace settlement seems elusive. For peace, there has to be reconciliation. And that can only come when people find some kind of closure, when the perpetrators of their suffering are held to account.

If “peace” is imposed, the factors that led to the outbreak of hostilities will remain and spark future strife. For enduring peace, you need justice. A political transition in Syria is essential if the country is to avoid a destructive conflict in the future.