The European Union organized a Seventh Brussels Conference on ‘Supporting the future of Syria and the region’ on 14 and 15 June 2023, in Brussels. The conference addressed critical humanitarian and resilience issues affecting Syrians in Syria and neighboring countries.
Syrian participants– as individuals and organizations – and those who failed to attend due to logistical difficulties were looking forward to a more inclusive edition of the Conference reflecting the Syrian diversity. They were disappointed to see low levels of effective local representation on the Day of Dialogue. Those following up to the Conference also saw the marginalization and exclusion of many local organizations and groups, and made observations in this regard, to name a few,
- It was evident that there was a deliberate ignoring and dodging to address issues of vital importance to northeastern areas and other Syrian parts. There was a lack of representation of northeastern and regime-held areas as well as some neighboring countries. Actually, no speaker was identified to speak up about the suffering of northeastern Syria’s population and advocate for the local communities urgent and priority issues.
- The naming of the first day as the “Day of Dialogue” indicates that there would be a direct dialogue between Syrians from different parts of Syria. However, the format of the Conference was actually focused track sessions, where non-participating organizations were merely hearers (except for time-restricted brief comments).
- Many individuals and organizations, in Syria and neighboring countries, who were invited to the Conference, confirmed that the organizers did not make sufficient efforts to secure logistical support and visas in time for them. This deprived them of attending the Conference and had a clear impact on the representation, which thus resulted in the failure to convey a complete picture of lived reality through the Day of Dialogue and the Ministerial meeting.
- For the third consecutive year, the Conference ignored repeated calls to include Syriac and Kurdish in the conference’s main languages, despite them being Syrian national languages reflecting the diversity in Syria and the region.
Notably, the Syrian organizations active in different parts of the country, including the northeast, the west, and the regime-held areas, have made great strides towards mutual convergence defying conflict lines and artificial internal borders (This was evident in the response to the devastating February 2023 earthquake). Nonetheless, the Conference organizers did not use this already-created rapprochement between the organizations wisely. The lack of true and appropriate representation of all Syrian parts has perpetuated the current division and reinforced the marginalization suffered by certain communities, including women, people with disabilities, war casualties, and other vulnerable groups.
As such, signatories call on the EU and the organizers to,
- Hold a special virtual meeting with the relevant organizations to clarify the mechanisms for selecting representatives of civil society, and explain the reasons for the Conference’s failure to reflect Syrian diversity. This must be followed by the work on creating a transparent mechanism for selecting participants that takes into account the geographical, sectoral, and societal diversity of Syria.
- Ensure equitable representation for all Syrian regions, local communities, and humanitarian sectors. As well as ensuring inclusive, equal, and real participation in EU activities, including at Brussels Conference. This needs the concrete implementation of the recommendation made by the UN secretary-general, António Guterres at the opening of the Seventh Brussels Conference, which says that there can be no sustainable political solution without all Syrians.
- Exert real and effective efforts to bring the voices of local actors from inside Syria and neighboring countries to the EU events, whether by providing effective logistical support or ensuring their participation via the Internet. This would bridge the gap between organizations operating on the ground and those active in the diaspora.
Signatories, (In alphabetical order):
- Adil Center for Human Rights
- AINSHAMS Organization
- Al – Diyar Association
- Al – Khaboor Association
- Al – Raja Organization for Relief and Development
- Allied for Peace
- Al-Nawras Development Organization
- Alzajel Organization for Civil Socity
- Amal Alfurat Organization
- Amal Association
- Analysis and Strategic Study Organization (ASO)
- Anwar Algad
- Arak of East Organization
- ARAS Association
- Areej Organisation for Social Development
- Arzo organization
- ASHNA for Development
- Ashti Center for Building Peace
- Azdahar Organization
- Balsam Center for Health Education
- Better Hope for Al-Tabqa
- Better Tomorrow
- Bukra Ahla Association for Relief and Development
- Center for Research and Protection of Women’s rights in Syria
- Civil Society Platform
- Civil Society Youth Organization
- Community Solidarity Organaization
- DAN for Relief and Development
- DemoS
- Dijla Organization for Development and Environment
- DOZ Organization
- Dvlepamtd Seeds Center
- Ebdaa Organization for Development
- Ella Organization For Development and Peacebuilding
- Enma Aljazera
- Enmaa Alfourat Organization
- Ensaf for Development Organization
- Environment and Water Association (EWAS)
- Equity and Empowerment
- Euphrates NGO
- European and American Solidarity Committee for Afrin – Espoir Afrin
- Future Hands Organization
- General Union of Kurdish Writers and Journalists in Syria
- Generations for Development
- Haneen Al-Furat Organization
- HOLM
- Human Hope Team
- Human Peace Association
- Human Rights Organisation in Syria MAF e.v
- Human rights Organization Afrin- syria
- Inaash Organization for Development
- Iwaa Organization
- Jasmine Association
- Jiyan Charity Association
- Jiyan e. V.
- Jsor Alamal
- Kobani for Relief and Development
- Kurdish Committee for Human Rights – Observer
- Kurdish Organization for Human Rights in Syria (DAD)
- Lamasat alkhier Association for Relief and Development
- Lelun Association for Victims
- Lights for Development and Construction
- Malva for Arts and Culture
- Manara Organization
- Mary Association for Culture, Arts and Environment
- Nasmet Amal Organisation
- Nawat
- New Horizones
- Nujin Society for Community Development
- Okaaz
- PEACE SHE LEADERS NET WORK
- PÊL- Civil Waves
- Qadar Organization
- Radiance of Hope Organization
- Rahma Organization for Studies and Development
- Rewangeh – for the Defense of Prisoners of Conscience in Syria
- Rojkar Organization for Relief and Development
- Sahem Organization for Cooperation and Development
- Salam Organization
- SAMA
- Sanabel Al – Furat Development Organization
- Sara Organization to Combat Violence Against Women
- Sawaeed Organization for Development
- Shawshaka Association for Women
- Sighted Hands Organization
- Slav Organization for Civil Activities
- SMART Center – Zirak
- Snnae Almustaqbal Team
- Sphere for Development
- Swaedna Organization for Relief and Development
- Synergy Association for Victims
- Syria Justice and Accountability Center (SJAC)
- Syrian Center for Studies and Dialogue – SCSD
- Syrian Observatory for Human Rights
- Syrians for Truth and Justice – STJ
- Tara Organization
- The Civil Cooperation Team Organization
- The Violations Documentation Center in Northern Syria
- Totol foundation for Relief and Development
- Tree of Life Organization for Development
- Urnammu for Justice & Human Rights
- Wamda for Development, Training and Consulting
- Weqaya Association
- Youth for Change
- Youth Optimistic Organization
- Zameen for Development and Peacebuilding
- Zin Development Center