For any political solution for #Syria to be sustainable, it must include a robust mechanism to secure the rights and minimum conditions for return expressed by refugees and IDPs, some of which were detailed in our recent "We Are Syria" report. 1/ syacd.org/we-are-syria/
In doing so, the EU and the US need to use their decisive influence to reshape the mission of the Office of the Special Envoy (OSE) and the political process led by it. 2/
The majority of Syria's displaced see a political settlement as a core component of their ability to return home, but two-thirds see their chance to return slipping away as the peace process drags on. 3/
This emphasizes the importance and the urgency of reformulating the process so the rights of displaced Syrians (who form a majority of the country’s population), including the right to a safe, voluntary and dignified return, become a fundamental element of the process. 4/
A sustainable political solution requires the OSE to redraw the process and deliver a comprehensive and timely political settlement that not only takes displace Syrians' views into account, but requires their active participation and representation. 5/
This is a clear signal to international NGOs and civil society activists to focus their advocay on a comprehensive political settlement that includes mechanisms to secure the rights and minimum conditions for return expressed by refugees and IDPs. 6/
A key goal of such an advocacy effort must be the inclusion of refugees and IDPs in all discussions about Syria's future, particularly those related to setting the minimum conditions for returns or any returns programming or policy. 7/
This also applies to prevention of premature or forced returns from the neighbouring host countries or the European Union. 8/
Countries like Lebanon and Turkey need to abandon any and all policies that encourage or force premature or unsafe returns, with a clear role in this for the EU, the US and the UNHCR. 9/
The Western donors can effectively use their funding leverage to ensure that host countries maintain services and allow aid, provide legal rights, and limit negative and dehumanizing rhetoric and politics regarding refugees. 10/
One of the key roles that donor countries should play is the strengthening of the oversight of the work of UNHCR and including representation and participation of the displaced Syrians in such oversight mechanisms. 11/
The UNHCR must undertake returns work based on the priorities of refugees and IDPs’ concerns and conditions; work on security, as amply illustrated by the findings of the "We Are Syria" report, should take the highest priority. 12/
The displaced Syrians clearly do not have sufficient information on some of the crucial aspects of the security conditions when considering possible return, which can be seen as a failure of the UNHCR to deliver on one of the key elements of its mandate. 13/
Lastly, there are key lessons for the NGOs and civil society actors in the "We Are Syria" survey, especially in relation to the need for them to undertake and promote work that addresses how minimum conditions can be actualized. 14/14
