Syrian victims of Iranian crimes should not be overlooked

Foreign involvement in the Syrian conflict can be traced to every corner of the globe, including Russia, Turkey, the United States, and neighboring countries such as Iraq, Lebanon, and Iran. Although the Syrian government is responsible for the largest portion of violations, those committed or supported by foreign states should not be ignored. The recent […]

REPORT RELEASE: SJAC Unmasks Decision-Makers Behind ISIS Brutality

The ISIS Bureau of Justice & Grievances played a central role in the governance and decision-making of administrative, civil, and criminal matters, terrorizing local communities by facilitating the establishment of the organization’s draconian rule over parts of Syria and Iraq, said the Syria Justice and Accountability Centre (SJAC) in a new report published today. The […]

The reality of displacement in Idlib: “Only the children were laughing”

The governorate of Idlib in northwest Syria has been under bombardment by Russian and Syrian forces since April of 2019, with an increased assault in December. Since December 16th, over 250,000 civilians have fled the bombardment in Idlib and many have been killed. One of SJAC’s team members based in Idlib was displaced from his […]

2019 Highlights: SJAC’s year in documentation, analysis, and research

Since its formation in 2012, SJAC has worked toward a Syria defined by justice, respect for human rights, and rule of law – where all Syrians live in peace. SJAC pursues this goal by focusing on three areas of work: documentation, analysis, and advocacy. In 2019, SJAC increased its documentation collection, grew its analysis team, […]

Myanmar at the ICJ – Is Syria Next?

The international community has been heavily criticized for failing to sufficiently respond to the plight of the Rohingya, Muslims who have been the subject of a campaign of mistreatment in Myanmar. However, last month, two important developments occurred. First, The Gambia filed a lawsuit against Myanmar at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), and Aung […]

New report sheds light on Sednaya detention

Sednaya prison is a notorious military prison outside of Damascus, which former detainees have referred to as “the place where you moved in to die.” Last month, the Association of Detainees and the Missing in Sednaya Prison (ADMSP) released a new report, “Detention in Sednaya: Report on the Procedures and Consequences of Political Imprisonment,” providing […]

Former UN Envoy Rewrites History

Speaking at an event in London earlier this month, Staffan de Mistura, the former UN Special Envoy to Syria, told the audience his ‘real reason’ for resigning: “I felt the war territorially was leading to an end and having really fought against what happened in Aleppo, in Idlib, in Daraya, I could not be the […]

SJAC’s Database: How SJAC is Using Technology to Transform the Field of Human Rights Documentation

  The Syrian conflict has been documented by civilians and eyewitnesses at an unprecedented scale. Perpetrators, victims, and eye-witnesses have captured millions of videos and images, many of which have been disseminated in real-time across the internet. The ability to capture and publicize such massive amounts of documentation has profound implications for the human rights […]

Will arms export bans have an impact on the Turkish offensive in northeast Syria?

Since Turkey’s incursion into northeast Syria, there has been mounting evidence of war crimes perpetrated against civilians in the region. Turkish-backed factions have been accused of executing prisoners and civilians, including the brutal murder of Kurdish women’s rights activist and politician Hevrin Khalaf. Civilians have accused Turkish troops in Tal Tamir of using white phosphorous, […]

Journalists in Syria deserve protection and justice

On November 2nd, the UN will observe the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists. Media practitioners and war correspondents are protected by the Geneva Conventions and are entitled to the status and treatment of a prisoner of war in case of capture. However, throughout the conflict in Syria, both local and foreign […]