At the end of 2021, the Syrian Association for Citizens' Dignity published its "Weaponization of Aid" report, which examined the mechanics of the methods the Syrian regime uses to control and direct the work of humanitarian aid agencies in Syria, including some UN agencies and international aid organizations, as well as myriad Syrian organisations that are often directly established by the regime's institutions or proxies. The report was based on interviews with 45 Syrians and several internationals, who work in international aid organisations, UN agencies, and Syrian humanitarian and civil society organisations (CSOs). Different percentages of them confirmed that the regime was determining who benefits from these organisations (and who does not), appointing directors and managers, and hiring employees, and directing help and benefits to military and security agencies and personnel. Most local organisations are founded by individuals close to the regime as a means of obtaining funds, in addition to the fact that Relatives of regime-linked figures and those associated with the regime are appointed to most aid organisations to monitor and report to the regime and the parties that secured their employment about the activities of the organisations and their workers. 

The Syrian Association for Citizens' Dignity (SACD) issued a statement to strongly condemn the amnesty decree No. (24) of 2022 issued by the Syrian regime, to pardon "military defectors," as a dangerous attempt to entice displaced Syrians, especially young men, back to an unsafe Syria where they face forced disappearance, arbitrary arrest, torture and death. We believe that the regime which continues to imprison tens of thousands of detainees without a valid reason, which has relentlessly killed, tortured, imprisoned, starved and displaced its people has no legitimacy to issue amnesties and that it is the members of the regime who should be the ones seeking pardon. 

Shortly after the 2020 conference on refugee return organized by Russia in Damascus, the Syrian regime began to pressure the displaced to return to their areas, through confiscating their property and assets claiming they were "ownerless". SACD illustrated how the Assad regime is actively engaged in forced displacement and demographic change all over Syria.  

Expropriation of land and displacement have been employed as tools of collective punishment. Its victims see no way to get any sort of justice; many are simply struggling to survive. And while the people of Hama have been targeted by the Assad regime for decades, the Assad regime continues its oppressive practices against them by using demolition of informal housing as a method of forced and planned displacement.  

SACD has always been keen on engaging with communities of Syrian refugees to properly understand their circumstances and convey their difficulties and suffering. In a candid interview, Tarek Saadeldine, who has been living in Denmark with his family for nearly seven years, explains how erroneous and inaccurate the assessment that Damascus is safe for returns. "We fled not because Damascus is safe or not safe, but for fear of arrest, pursuit and oppression," says Tarik whose nephew has been spotted in the Caesar images among those tortured to death.  

Despite that many people think that it will be safe in Syria when the war ends , and based on that refugees need to return to their home country, SACD interviewed IDPs in Damascus to show that there are so many security, economic, and social threats that would make people feel unsafe in Syria. 

In another interview, A.M. a master's student at Damascus University explains "What worries us most is compulsory military service. This is a terrifying issue for me & any young man. When we see a regime checkpoint asking us for IDs, we get a great feeling of fear."