SJAC Suspends Programs in Response to U.S. Foreign Aid Freeze
As of January 24th, 2025, the Syria Justice and Accountability Centre (SJAC) was forced to suspend the majority of its programs in Syria and around the world. Per a directive issued by the Department of State, SJAC is complying with a stop-work order which has frozen essential funding, without which, SJAC will cease to operate.
For the past twelve years, SJAC has documented the crimes of the Assad government and built an international team with deep expertise in documentation, accountability, missing persons, and related justice issues. Now, in the aftermath of Assad’s fall, when SJAC’s expertise in transitional justice and database of over two million pieces of evidence are most needed, we are struggling to maintain these core activities.
In an attempt to survive the federally mandated 90-day review period, SJAC was forced to immediately cut salaries and layoff staff in Syria, Europe, and the United States. The impacts of this disruption to SJAC’s work will only worsen the longer we wait for a resolution.
U.S. foreign aid is critical for the future stability of Syria. SJAC’s programs are built around the promise that the international community will hold perpetrators accountable and support Syrians who lived through 13 years of war crimes and crimes against humanity. This policy change significantly and abruptly impacts the lives of our team and threatens transitional justice efforts for Syria. The withdrawal of aid will permanently damage the ability for Syrians to rebuild and recover.
SJAC is urgently seeking a waiver so that we can begin rebuilding our operations.
In the meantime, we are asking our supporters to donate what they can over the next 90 days so that we can sustain essential activities during this period.
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