Support Human Rights Activists in Syria

Thank you for your support of SJAC’s efforts to train human rights activists in Syria and around the world.

Live Trainings

This quarter, SJAC presented at a live training in Somaliland which was hosted by the organization Every Casualty Counts. SJAC’s Legal Director provided in-person training to a group of human rights practitioners during a multi-session conference. The training covered SJAC’s data mythology, documentation database, data security for protecting documentation and witness identify, as well as psychosocial support policies for activists, survivors, and witnesses.

SJAC is planning additional in-person trainings in the coming quarter. More details will be available in our next update.

Thank you again for your support of SJAC's work.

This quarter, SJAC continued adapting to the changing context of post-Assad Syria.

Recent political shifts have created a greater need to train activists inside Syria who, as of now, enjoy increased freedom to document and preserve evidence of violations. While overall violations have decreased, it is critical for documentation to continue. For example, the violence that erupted along Syria's coast in March occurred in areas that historically experienced fewer violations during the Assad era. Therefore, many activists and witnesses urgently sought information on how best to document the violations being committed.

As part of SJAC's immediate response, SJAC's Executive Director produced a video providing basic instructions for witnesses on how to collect high-quality documentation that could be used to pursue justice for victims and hold perpetrators accountable. More training resources will be made available in the coming months.

Next quarter, SJAC hopes to establish a greater presence in Damascus, offer comprehensive training for activists and organizations, and refocus documentation efforts to address emerging patterns of violations.

Thank you again for your support of SJAC's work.