Areas of Work

First: Legislation and Public Policies

The Initiative analyses legislation, public policies, decisions, and executive measures in Syria and assesses their compatibility with international human-rights standards and rule-of-law principles. This includes reviewing draft laws and legislation, assessing government policies and their impact on fundamental rights, analysing administrative and executive decisions and measures, and developing recommendations and alternative policy options.

Second: Transitional Justice and Institutional Reform

The Initiative places particular importance on transitional justice and institutional reform processes in Syria, given the need to address the consequences of violations and prevent their recurrence. In this context, it develops victim-centred approaches supporting the reform and independence of public institutions, analysing laws and policies related to transitional justice, and promoting accountability, transparency, and guarantees of non-recurrence.

Third: Rule of Law and Judicial Independence

The Initiative seeks to support the establishment of a legal and judicial system grounded in justice, independence, and equality before the law. This includes analysing legislation related to justice and the judiciary, assessing legal and procedural safeguards, supporting fair-trial standards, and strengthening judicial independence.

Fourth: Equality and Non-Discrimination

The Initiative is committed to promoting full equality among all Syrians, individuals and groups, without any form of discrimination, including on the basis of gender, race, ethnicity, religion or sect, political or social affiliation, disability, or any other status. The Initiative also mainstreams a gender perspective throughout its work, analyses, and recommendations.

Fifth: Public Dialogue and Advocacy

The Initiative works to promote public dialogue on issues related to fundamental rights and public policies through discussions, workshops, policy papers, legal analyses, engagement with relevant local and international actors, and support for public debates on legal and institutional reform.

Methodology

The Initiative is committed to ensuring that its analyses and recommendations are independent, realistic, evidence-based, and attentive to the complexities of the Syrian context. Its work is guided by a legal and technical methodology based on:

• International human-rights standards and international law;
• Comparative legal analysis;
• Review of legislation and public policies;
• Assessment of the human-rights impact of decisions and measures;
• Development of practical and implementable recommendations;
• Adoption of a victim- and survivor-centred approach;
• Gender mainstreaming;
• Consultation with local and international experts and stakeholders.

What Are Fundamental Rights?

The Initiative approaches fundamental rights as a comprehensive framework encompassing:

• Civil and political rights;
• Economic, social, and cultural rights;
• The right to equality and non-discrimination;
• The right to access justice;
• Public and individual freedoms;
• The right to public participation;
• The right to protection from violations, violence, and exclusion.

This framework also entails respect for human dignity, the promotion of the rule of law, and ensuring state institutions are subject to legal and institutional accountability.

Stakeholders

The Initiative directs its work toward Syrian public institutions, legislative and judicial bodies, decision-makers, civil society organisations, international and regional actors concerned with Syria, researchers and experts, and the Syrian public.