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 continues to suffer from deep divisions among various parties—locally, regionally, and internationally—underscoring the need for a comprehensive plan for an inclusive political transition process. Such a plan must include all Syrians, regardless of their ethnic, religious, or cultural affiliations, and ensure justice, reconciliation, and sustainable peace both 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 your esteemed efforts 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:
- Access Organisation
- Accountability Advocates Organization
- Adad Organization
- AlKhaboor Association
- Alzajel Association
- Ambassadors Association for Persons with Disabilities
- Aras Association
- Arej Organization for Social Development
- Ashna for Development Organisation
- Ashvan Organisation
- Ashti Center for Peace Building
- ASO Center for Consultancy and Strategic Study
- ASO News Network
- Bader Organization for Community Development
- Baladna Organization
- Bukra Ahla for Relief and Development Organization
- Chaushka Women’s Association
- Civil Society Platform
- Development Seeds Centre
- Dijla Organization for Development and Environment
- DOZ Organization
- Ella Organization for Development and Peacebuilding
- Equal Citizenship Center
- Esphere for Development
- Euphrates NGO
- Fariq Snnae Almustaqbal (Future Makers Team)
- Foor Them
- Hayat Organization
- Hori Organisation for Human Rights
- Humanitarian and Development Cooperation Organization
- Jasmine Organization
- Justice for Life – JFL
- Khutwa Association
- Kobani for Relief and Development
- Kurdish Cultural Association in Geneva
- “Little Dreams” Group to Support and Empower Women
- Lelun Association for Victims (LAV)
- Lights for Development and Construction
- Links of Hope for Development
- Mary Association for Culture, Arts and Environment
- Mawj for Development
- Mitan Center for the Revival of Civil Society
- Nawat
- NES LNGO Platform
- Nextep Organization
- Nudem Organization
- Nujeen Association of Community Development
- OFOK
- Okaz
- Peace Land Organization
- Peace She Leader Network
- PÊL – Civil Waves Organisation
- RÊ for Rehabilitation and Development
- Reng for Development
- Research and Protection of Women’s Rights Center
- Roj Kar for Relief and Development
- Rojava Association for Kurdish Culture and Literature
- Rose for Support and Empowerment
- Sahem Organization for Cooperation and Development
- Sanabel Al-Furat
- Society for Threatened Peoples – Germany
- Stability Support Center
- Synergy Association for Victims
- Syriac Cross Organization for Relief and Development
- Syrian Center for Studies and Dialogue – SCSD
- Syrian Pioneer
- Syrians for Truth and Justice – STJ
- Taa Marbouta
- Tab Top
- Tadmrto Organization
- Tara Organization
- Warshin für Umweltschutz
- Wecare
- White Hope Organization
- White Human Organization
- Yekpar Association
- Zameen for Development and Peacebuilding