Yesterday afternoon, the Syria peace talks in Geneva produced their first breakthrough. The UN mediator Lakhdar Brahimi reported that both parties have agreed upon conditions under which women and children are allowed to leave the besieged city of Homs, Syria. Although this deal marks an important first step in these talks, it falls critically short of both what was expected and what is needed. Indeed, Brahimi conceded that it would take time “to bring Syria out of the ditch in which it has fallen.” If the peace process takes too long, President Bashar al-Assad will be left appearing as a partner in the process while continuing to decimate his people.

The Geneva II Conference’s aim is to make steps toward a transitional government in Syria. The meeting comes more than a year after the initial discussion on peace in Syria began. In June 2012, an action group, with the support of all five permanent members of the UN Security Council, devised an outline for international intervention in Syria and the goals any potential political settlements would need to meet. With those guidelines in place, Geneva II has resulted in several peace talks between Syrian opposition and the incumbent government, but the efforts seem worryingly perfunctory.

The talks are unlikely to precipitate a regime change with the current ineffectual Syrian delegation. Assad seems to have played his political cards just right. By sending a powerless delegation to Geneva II, he may hang on to the presidency. The only deals without Assad’s involvement will be minor guarantees of further humanitarian relief and brief ceasefires in return for western aid.

While political talks have continued, the death toll has risen dramatically. Recently, evidence was uncovered that revealed the systematic killing of roughly 11,000 detainees. Many of the corpses showed signs of torture. The evidence is more detailed than most other documentation of the war crimes in Syria and could be used to indict Syrian officials.

While the developments of Geneva II may appear conducive to Syrian peace, spectators must remain cognizant of the looming risks with feeble rewards. Although the talks may have produced a minor victory for women and children, true progress cannot be achieved until the negotiators stop ignoring the actual problem. Warfare is waged by the Assad regime on its own citizens, from relentless blockades to air strikes to inhumane imprisonment. Discussions that fail to produce meaningful action against these jarring realities are not only woefully neglectful of civilian suffering but also perpetuate Assad’s crimes against humanity.

A version of this article appeared in the Monday, Jan. 27 print edition. Email the WSN Editorial Board at [email protected].