On June 8, 2023, the Syrian Association for Citizens’ Dignity (SACD) and the European Institute for Peace (EIP) held a conference entitled: “Syrian Civil Society Advocacy on Post-Earthquake Humanitarian and Political Reality in NW Syria” The conference brought together leading civil society and advocacy groups active in northwestern Syria and Turkey, in addition to displaced Syrian voices and personalities, along with a distinguished group of international diplomats and researchers specializing in Syria. 

The outcomes of this conference formed a source of information for the Seventh Brussels Conference and will provide policy makers with clear guidance about what the Syrian people expect from the international community in light of the dire circumstances that were exacerbated by the earthquake. 

The Syrian Association for Citizens’ Dignity (SACD) expressed solidarity with the families of the migrant victims who were on board the boat heading to Italy, which was involved in an accident in which at least 79 people drowned. In its statement, “Fleeing Death Drowning in the Sea,” it emphasized the following points: 

1. The Syrians still insist on refusing to return to Syria under the authority of the current Assad regime, and instead find themselves forced to make decisions that threaten their lives, and their pure bodies become food for the fish of the seas. We must highlight this shocking incident and work to protect the rights and safety of Syrians.
2. We noticed that the vast majority of the victims had left the reconciliation area in Daraa, and this indicates the failure of Russia and the regime to achieve any safety or stability for citizens. Those responsible for this failure must be held accountable and a safe environment and decent living for Syrians wherever they are must be ensured.
3. We demand that Greek officials be held accountable for this heinous crime and brought to justice. This disaster must be seriously investigated and everyone who caused it must be held accountable.
4. We demand that the bodies of all the victims be recovered and that their families be granted the right to a dignified burial for their children. They should have the opportunity to say their final goodbyes.
5. We have to realize that these tragedies and disasters will not stop unless a comprehensive political solution is achieved that includes providing a safe environment that guarantees a decent life for Syrians and the voluntary, safe, and dignified return of all displaced people. The international community must work seriously and combine its efforts to reach this desired solution.
6. The existence of this criminal regime and its continuous violations must not be overlooked, as it is one of the most important reasons that lead to the recurrence of these horrific humanitarian disasters. We must work together to end the existence of this regime and restore justice and safety to the Syrian people.

The Syrian Association for Citizens’ Dignity also participated in the program on the status of Syrian refugees and voluntary return, which was held by the Turkish “Solaris” organization in cooperation with the presidency of the Şanlıurfa Bar Association on June 23, 2023, in the Turkish city of Şanlıurfa. 

In his speech, Dr. Marwan Nazhan, a member of the SACD’s Board of Trustees, condemned the continued violence and repression in Syria, and stressed the importance of providing a safe environment before considering the return of displaced Syrians. He expressed his dissatisfaction with the loss of confidence suffered by Syrians regarding political solutions to the Syrian issue, and called for taking measures to build confidence and provide practical and realistic solutions. He stressed the need to provide a safe environment for Syrians before any comprehensive political solution, noting that return under the current situation will have negative repercussions.