Attendance by invitation only.

Secure housing, land and property (HLP) rights are a prerequisite for achieving durable solutions in Syria, for fostering peace and reconciliation, and for establishing the foundations for recovery and future reconstruction. It is therefore vital to protect the rights of all Syrians, especially those displaced within and outside the country, residents of informal settlements and residents whose homes were destroyed by the conflict and the earthquake.

Since the onset of the conflict, HLP actors have been active in Syria and in surrounding countries hosting Syrian refugees. A range of activities to protect and safeguard HLP rights have been implemented by different stakeholders. UN-Habitat and GLTN’s regional programme for documenting the Housing, Land and Property (HLP) claims of displaced Syrians in Iraq and Lebanon is coming to an end in July 2023, while UN-Habitat’s Syria Country Programme is also making progress on HLP interventions within Syria. Other stakeholders, including NRC and IOM, have implemented complementary initiatives. Strategic discussions on broader land governance and land administration considerations have been taking place between these stakeholders, and progress has been made towards a shared vision of the future of HLP and land in Syria.

In the context of the changing political landscape and shifting international relations, it is vital that development, humanitarian and human rights partners come together to assess the progress made and to define a path forward. In this roundtable discussion, key stakeholders will share their ambitions for HLP in Syria in the coming years given the evolving circumstances, while the ensuing roundtable discussion will aim to achieve consensus and identify clear next steps.

Agenda:

• Opening Remarks by UN-Habitat, NRC, and BMZ
• Overview of UN-Habitat/GLTN HLP interventions in Syria/neighbouring countries
• Roundtable discussion:
  • Each participant has 5-10 minutes to explain their vision for the way forward for HLP interventions over the next five years
  • Moderated roundtable discussion

Proposed speakers:

Representatives of

• UN-Habitat
• UNHCR
• NRC
• IOM
• IIIM
• Shelter Sector
• Office of the Special Envoy for Syria
• BMZ
• EU
• OHCHR
• Selected NGOs