Syria: Recommendations from 81 Syrian Civil Society Organizations to the European Union

Mrs. Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission,

The High Representative of the European Union, and Vice-President of the European Commission,

Ladies and gentlemen of the European Commission and Members of the European Parliament,

Ladies and gentlemen, Heads of State and Government of the Member States of the European Union,

Despite the end of Assad’s rule, Syria still suffers from deep divisions among the various parties; locally, regionally and internationally, which underscores the need to design a comprehensive plan for an inclusive political transition process that includes all Syrians, regardless of their ethnic, religious and cultural affiliations, and ensures  justice, reconciliation and sustainable peace among Syrians and with neighboring countries.

We, the undersigned Syrian organizations, highly value the European Union’s unwavering support and commitment to Syria and the Syrians since 2011. Believing that the political transition phase hinges on genuine support and commitment of the international community, which guarantees the unity and sovereignty of the country, we hope for your support and adoption of the following recommendations:

First: Ceasefire and Initiation of Serious Syrian-Syrian Dialogue: We call on you to exert pressure for an immediate and permanent ceasefire throughout Syria, under United Nations supervision and international monitoring, as a first step towards ending this conflict. Simultaneously, we call for the initiation of an inclusive and serious political dialogue among all Syrian parties, including political, civil, social, and military forces. This dialogue should be conducted under the supervision of the United Nations and without the exclusion of any party.

Second: Democratic Reforms and Political Transition: The success of any transitional phase in Syria requires immediate, genuine, and profound reforms that ensure the participation of all Syrians (both within Syria and abroad) in designing the transitional phase and the transitional governing body. This should be followed by drafting an inclusive constitution and holding transparent and fair elections under United Nations supervision, in accordance with Resolution 2254, guaranteeing the right of all Syrians to actively engage in the political process without exclusion or marginalization.

The transition should also focus on establishing a pluralistic democratic system that respects the rights of all communities and ethnic, cultural, and religious groups in Syria, acknowledges the diversity of Syria, and breaks with the policies of repression and marginalization that led to the outbreak of the conflict in the first place.

Third: Transitional Justice: We call for pressure to be exerted for the adoption of a genuine transitional justice process that includes the full range of actions and mechanisms related to the attempts made by Syrian society to address the widespread violations of the past,  to ensure accountability, establish justice, and achieve reconciliation, in order to build trust among individuals within the same society and restore trust in state institutions.

Therefore, there must be pressure to adopt an approach that is based on accountability, and is transparent, non-selective, and non-retributive, while emphasizing the importance of documenting all crimes and violations committed by all parties to ensure justice.

We also call for enhancing efforts to release all detainees and to reveal the fate of the missing and kidnapped persons across all Syrian territories.

Fourth: Ensuring the Preservation of State Institutions and the Adoption of a Comprehensive Approach to Institutional Reform: Immediate pressure should be exerted to protect state institutions, documents, and archives related to public rights and policies from destruction or manipulation, to ensure effective institutional functioning and accountability in the future. This will help rebuild trust in the new Syrian state institutions, support respect for human rights, and strengthen the rule of law, as a step towards reconciliation, institutional reform, and the prevention of any new violations.

We, the undersigned Syrian organizations, believe that Syrians deserve a better future, within a pluralistic democratic system that recognizes the rights of all its citizens and respects Syria’s unique diversity. We emphasize the need for the European Union and the international community to continue providing tangible support for this inclusive transitional process to ensure peace and stability in Syria and its neighboring countries, and to achieve justice for all citizens.

Signatory organizations in alphabetical order:

1. “Little Dreams” Group to Support and Empower Women
2. ACCESS Organization
3. Accountability Advocates Organization
4. Adad Organization
5. AlKhaboor Association
6. Alzajel Association
7. Ambassadors Association for Persons with Disabilities
8. ARAS Association
9. Arej Organization for Social Development
10. ASHNA for Development
11. Ashti Center for Peace Building
12. ASHVAN Organization
13. ASO News Network
14. Bader Organization for Community Development
15. Baladna Organization
16. Bukra Ahla Organization for Relief and Development
17. Center for Consultancy and Strategic Study – ASO
18. Center for Research and Protection of Women’s Rights
19. Chaushka Women’s Association
20. Civil Society Platform
21. Development Seeds Centre
22. Dijla Organization for Development and Environment
23. Dijla Organization for Development and Environment
24. DOZ ORGANIZATION
25. Ellaorganization for Development Peacebuilding
26. Equal Citizenship Center
27. Esphere for Development
28. Euphrates NGO
29. Fariq Snnae Almustaqbal (Future Makers Team)
30. Foor Them
31. Hayat Organization
32. Hayyat Foundation
33. Hori Organisation For Human Rights
34. Humanitarian and Development Cooperation Organization
35. Jasmine Organization
36. JUSTICE FOR LIFE – JFL
37. Khutwa Association
38. Kobani for Relief and Development
39. Kurdish Cultural Association in Geneva
40. Lelun Association for Victims (LAV)
41. Lights For Development And Construction
42. Links of Hope for Development
43. Mary Association for Culture, Arts and Environment
44. Mawj for Development
45. Mitan Center for the Revival of Civil Society
46. Nawat
47. NES LNGO plat firm
48. Nextep Organization
49. Nûdem
50. Nudem organization
51. Nujeen Association of Community Development
52. OFOK
53. Okaz
54. PEACE LAND ORGANIZATION
55. PEACE SHE LEADER NETWORK
56. PÊL- Civil Waves
57. RÊ for Rehabilitation and Development
58. Reng for development
59. Roj kar for Relief and Development
60. Rojava Association for Kurdish Culture and Literature
61. Rose for Support and Empowerment
62. Sahem Organization for Cooperation and Development
63. Sanabel Al – Furat
64. Society for Threatened Peoples – Germany
65. Stability Support Center
66. Synergy Association for Victims
67. Syriac Cross Organization for Relief and Development
68. Syrian Center for Studies and Dialogue – SCSD
69. Syrianpioneer
70. Syrians for Truth and Justice – STJ
71. Taa Marbouta
72. Tab Top
73. Tadmrto Organization
74. Tara Organization
75. Warshin Für Umweltschutz
76. wecare
77. White Hope
78. White Hope Organization
79. White human Organization
80. YEKPAR Association
81. Zameen for Development and Peacebuilding.