Blogs and statements
Syrian Civil Society Groups Propose Framework for Effective Criminal Accountability Amid Ongoing Trials
May 12, 2026 | | This post is also available in: Arabic 12 May 2026: A coalition of 27 Syrian civil society organisations and victims’ groups has released a new report outlining a proposed framework for criminal accountability in Syria, at a time when trials are beginning to take place in Damascus. The report, Pathways […]
Position Paper On the Transitional Justice Process and Cooperation with the National Transitional Justice Commission
April 27, 2026 | | This post is also available in: Arabic The undersigned Syrian victims’ associations and civil society organizations affirm that transitional justice constitutes a fundamental pillar of any serious path toward building sustainable peace and stability in Syria. It is impossible to envision a genuine political and social transition toward a state […]
Rebuilding Syria: Why Reconstruction Must Be Human Rights-Centred
April 15, 2026 | | This post is also available in: Arabic After more than a decade of conflict, Syria is entering a phase where reconstruction is no longer a distant prospect but an emerging reality. Cities and towns across the country bear the marks of prolonged violence and economic collapse. The scale of destruction […]
The Closure of Oil Burners in Deir ez-Zur: Between Environmental Protection and the Right to Livelihood
April 1, 2026 | | This post is also available in: Arabic In northeastern Syria, oil burners, primitive machines used to refine extracted oil and separate its derivatives, were transformed during the years of war from an emergency solution for securing fuel into a parallel economy that produces chronic pollution, health risks, and workplace accidents, […]
Rebuilding with Integrity: How Digital Governance Could Help Curb Corruption in Syria
March 15, 2026 | | This post is also available in: Arabic After decades of authoritarian rule under the Assad regime, Syria faces the immense task of rebuilding institutions weakened by systemic corruption, opaque governance, and widespread economic crimes. For many Syrians, the transition now underway represents more than a political turning point—it is an […]
Marota City Is Not a Model for Syria’s Reconstruction
March 1, 2026 | | This post is also available in: Arabic Displacement and Suspended Property Rights When the Marota (and Basilia) City project was announced in Damascus in 2012, it was presented as the jewel of a new capital: glass towers, luxury apartments, shopping centres, and wide boulevards promising the birth of a “modern” […]
The Current Moment of Contestation Around the Contours of Economic Crimes Creates Opportunities for Victim-Centered Advocacy
Feb 13, 2026 | | This post is also available in: Arabic Introduction As Syria rebuilds and rewrites its social contract, Syrians from different viewpoints and positions engage in active discussion about their vision for the country. One paradigmatic site of contestation is the discussion around how to best address the myriad of economic crimes […]
Urgent Call to Protect Civilians, Halt Military Operations, and Adopt Political Solutions
Jan 25, 2026 | This post is also available in: Arabic The undersigned organizations are closely monitoring, with deep concern, the humanitarian and security situation in northeastern Syria following the signing of the agreement reached between the Syrian Transitional Government and the Syrian Democratic Forces on 21st January. The agreement aims to establish a ceasefire […]
Mohammad Hamsho’s “Reconciliation” with the Government: A Legal and Human Rights Based Perspective
Jan 21, 2026 | This post is also available in: Arabic Mohammad Saber Hamsho is a Syrian businessman who emerged as one of the most prominent economic actors associated with the Assad regime during fourteen years of the Syrian uprising. Born in Damascus in 1966, Hamsho built a diversified business empire spanning construction, petrochemicals, telecommunications, […]