As in previous editions, the Brussels VII Conference on the Future of Syria and the Region was inaugurated by the Day of Dialogue, which year after year constitutes the largest platform for civil society organisations related to Syria, both inside their country and in the diaspora, as well as operational partners involved in the Syria crisis response. The discussion took place in the European Parliament Hemicycle and aimed to enhance the political support of the international community for these crucial actors.

The UN Deputy Special Envoy for Syria, Ms Najat Rochdi eloquently highlighted the pivotal role of civil society: “Syrians are not only people in need of humanitarian assistance. Syrians are not only victims of arbitrary detention. Syrians are also the architects of a better future for Syria, hence the importance of this Conference and of supporting civil society inside of Syria and in the diaspora”.

The first panel explored the basic needs, access to basic services and early recovery in the Syrian context.

12 years since the start of the protests, Syria continues to be one of the world’s most complex humanitarian emergencies and one of the major displacement crises of our times. With large-scale displacements of population both inside Syria and the region – 6.8 million IDPs and 5.3 million registered refugees respectively – local communities and the response capacities of humanitarian partners are under significant pressure, as the situation continues to deteriorate at an alarming pace.  The earthquakes that hit Türkiye and Syria on 6 February 2023 further eroded the resilience of the population, affecting negatively the provision of basic services and increasing the complexity in the response as well as the number of Syrians in need of assistance.

Participants provided an overview of the economic situation of the neighbouring countries and thus the impact upon the livelihood of Syrian refugees. Not in vain close to 70% of refugees from Syria live under the poverty line, with meagre access to basic services. Mr Moutaz Adham, Syria Country director, OXFAM, recalled the dire needs, lack of electricity and safe water. “it is time to turn on the lights in Syria and prevent further darkness”.

Panel rapporteur, Ms Roula Al-Rokbi, Country Director, Women Now for Development, alerted that humanitarian assistance alone should not be deemed sufficient and invited the international community to assist refugees at all levels. She praised the role of civil society organisations in the aftermath of the earthquakes by providing localised assistance, as well as the role of small business. The dire political and economic situation in the neighbouring countries has translated in a deterioration of access to schooling for children, child labour and forced early marriages. Panellists agreed on the importance of supporting the hosting communities to prevent additional conflict. Discriminatory measures imposed upon refugee populations, have resulted in detentions and forced deportations.

From the audience, Asmaa Kftarou from the Syrian Islamic Forum, emphasized the importance of education in the societal rehabilitation process: “The day will come when it will be easy for us to rebuild our houses, but it will not be easy for us to rebuild people. It is difficult today to rebuild the Syrian people, to rebuild what used to be a cohesive society. Equality between men and women is one of the highest priorities to rebuild people in society in Syria. Marriage of minors, child labour… if education does not include gender dimension raising children that do not hate, we will not be able to build a good society. If we not insist upon the concept of citizenship, we will not have a cohesive society.”

Mr Michael Talhami, Regional Water and Habitat Adviser for the Near and Middle East, International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) made an emphasis in the potential unintended impact of sanctions and the importance of not discriminating between host communities and refugees.

Panel rapporteur Ms Amany Qaddour, Regional Director at Syria Relief and Development, Dawlaty, reminded that the UN Humanitarian Response Plan for Syria is only funded at 11%: “Even though support increased after the earthquake, one-dimensional short-sighted support can increase deep vulnerabilities that existed before. This overlap of vulnerabilities can mean disastrous consequences for children. The exploitation and recruitment of children has led to precarious conditions that would put anyone at risk, let alone children who have been stripped of anything resembling a childhood and the right to a healthy development”. Baghdadi also alerted about the mental health consequences of protracted conflict, citing an alarming increase of suicides.

Ms Nirvana Shawky, Regional Director for Middle East and North Africa, CARE, highlighted the vulnerabilities of women and girls and in particular, how deeply entrenched conceptions about the role of women have perpetuated their exclusion rather than allowing them to fulfil their role within their communities. However, bringing women to the centre of the discussion is just as important as situating the men and boys in this narrative.

Qaddour concluded: “Without addressing the immediate threats to the wellbeing of women and girls, we cannot address the wider notions of empowerment. This includes the provision of services that address Gender-based violence, which has been weaponised very much like many other aspects of this conflict. Changing these realities takes time, which needs a longer-term view than a six to twelve month project life cycle”.

The second panel discussed the importance of empowering the local leadership, continuing to build on locally led initiatives, and integrating systemically the knowledge and expertise already existing on the ground.

Panel rapporteur, Ms Rola Baghdadi, Executive Director of  Dawlaty emphasised the importance of civil society organisations which should be understood in a wider sense to include “youth organisations, worker unions, women organisations”. Civil society “is important because it crosses the lines of conflict and the internal divisions, making response effective”. This was exemplified in the response to the earthquake. “We must invest in civil society, because it is particularly able to identify needs”. The session reiterated the importance of sustainable solutions, with a particular mention to education and vocational training that allows job creation, as well as the importance of support to small and medium business and domestic supply chains.

The third and last panel focused on the justice and accountability dimension. The panellists began by emphasising the significance of the work carried out by the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism (IIIM) in the past year and a half and urged the EU to continue to support its efforts. Ms Catherine Marchi-Uhel, Head of the IIIM for Syria reported 213 cases under investigation, most of which have been attributed to the Syrian regime. The mechanism conducts investigations to combat the impunity enjoyed by all the perpetrators, the most important one being the Syrian regime. Their focus is on crimes committed during detention and unlawful attacks , which allows for the identification of crime patterns, a crucial step in the ongoing accountability process.

Ms Sophie Havard, First Deputy Prosecutor at the Specialised Unit for Crimes against Humanity and War Crimes in the French National Counterterrorism Prosecution Office explained that their team is currently examining 40 cases related to Syria and Iraq. On 12 May 2023, the French prosecution authorities accorded that courts can candle cases pertaining to Syria without the requirements of double criminality in matters related to crimes against humanity and genocide. The French prosecution authorities not only initiate inquiries but also combat impunity and address attacks against justice. An initial trial is scheduled for 2024, targeting three members of the Syrian intelligence services who might be sentenced in absentia.

Dr Patrick Kroker, Senior Legal Advisor in the International Crimes and Accountability program at the European Centre for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR) said: “Justice efforts on their own are not enough. We might never get the Syrian Nuremberg, but a starting point is to name who has and is still committing the crimes in Syria. The timeframe of justice is very long; it must imperatively be accompanied by political efforts. No judgement is going to get anyone out of prison.” Panel rapporteur Ms Mariana Karkoutly, Syrian legal investigator, human rights activist, and co-founder and chair of the Board of Directors at Huquqyat reminded that “justice delayed is justice denied”, as Martin Luther King used to say.

Ms Noura Ghazi-Safadi, Syrian Human Rights Lawyer, Co-Founder and Director of Nophotozone, and Founding Member of Families for Freedom agreed: “The process of accountability, despite of its greatness, is not enough. As long as the crimes are still being committed and the criminals are still there, as long there are disappeared Syrians whose whereabouts are hidden from their families and as long as we are unable to go back to Syria, you cannot act as if you did all your duties towards us. (…) The indifference of the international community in Syria has led to the war in Ukraine. The minimum justice in Syria is about political change, a complete and comprehensive change and transition.

One of the most powerful deliveries of the day came from Ms Wafa Mustafa, Syrian Activist, journalist, and Non-Resident Fellow at the Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy (TIMEP) and Refugees International who related a question many Syrians are familiar with: “What is your demand?”

“My demand is the freedom of my father, of all other detainees. I am told constantly that I need to find some other more practical and realistic demands, as if wanting my father to be free and live with him the rest of our lives was not practical and fundamental enough. This is one aspect that the families of detainees have to go through on a daily basis. We are not here because of a civil war. The main reason Syria is divided is because of the Assad regime – Syrians did not wake up one morning and decided to hate each other (…). The first step towards living together is the release of all detainees, justice, and prosecution of all war criminals starting with Assad himself”, was her response.

The concluding session included a presentation by Mr Ian Larson, from the Center for Operational Analysis and Research (COAR) of the Report on the Civil Society Consultations for the VII Brussels Conference, which highlighted the main conclusions from more than 2000 Syrian respondents. The identified challenges included a shrinking of the funds available for civil society, access to funds due to operational hindrances in bank transfers, the impact of the ongoing inflationary trends on livelihoods and the rise of various forms of hostility against Syrian refugees emerging particularly in Lebanon and Türkiye The risk of deportation, rising anti-refugee narratives and poor security conditions are linked to the intense political and economic turmoil in refugee-hosting countries.