LUGARIT Opens Dialogue on Rights-Based NGO Law in Syria

23 April 2025 - Damascus, Syria

LUGARIT participates in a policy workshop at the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor in Damascus to discuss its paper, “Preliminary Foundations for Developing the NGO Law in Syria.” The event was co-organized by the Omran Center for Strategic Studies and LUGARIT, in partnership with the Syrian American Medical Society (SAMS) and the Equal Citizenship Center, and held under the patronage of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor.

The workshop brought together a diverse and committed group of participants: the Minister of Social Affairs and Labor, Ms. Hind Kabawat, her core staff and advisors, as well as civic leaders from across the country. Among them were representatives from civil society organizations, NGO federations, legal experts, and individuals who have engaged in earlier debates on regulatory frameworks in both government-controlled and opposition-held areas.

The event was convened with the objective of initiating a multi-stakeholder conversation on the future of civic regulation in Syria. LUGARIT’s Partner, Omar Abdulaziz Hallaj, and opened the dialogue with a presentation of the key arguments in a background paper prepared by LUGARIT. His intervention set the stage for a rich and thoughtful discussion, offering early ideas to foster broader consultations and develop practical, context-sensitive policy options.

LUGARIT’s paper makes a forward-looking case for a new NGO legal framework rooted in the right to association, the principle of public benefit, and independent judicial oversight. It critiques the long-standing legacy of restrictive and discretionary regulation, while offering alternatives such as voluntary accreditation and independent regulatory mechanism co-managed by civil society and government to ensure both autonomy and accountability. At its core, the paper proposes a vision for a new social contract—one that recognizes civil society as a pillar in Syria’s recovery and reconstruction.

The workshop discussions reflected the diversity of experience among participants and the depth of unresolved questions around regulation. Topics raised included:

• The delicate boundary between civic deliberation and the activities of political parties.

• How the State can engage civil society constructively without suppressing its independence.

• The necessity of transferring NGO-related disputes to an independent judiciary rather than relying on executive enforcement.

• Mechanisms to verify public benefit and ensure transparent delivery of public goods.

• Whether reform should focus on drafting an entirely new legal framework or adjusting existing regulations through updated bylaws.

• The importance of ensuring inclusive access and equal opportunities for civic actors across rural areas and internally displaced persons (IDP) camps.

• Balancing national priorities with the influence of donors and their intermediaries, while reinforcing local agency.

The exchange of perspectives revealed that civic actors have long grappled with these questions, often devising practical and creative responses within the confines of a constrained legal environment. Many participants emphasized the urgency of establishing a regulatory environment that enables—not inhibits—CSO innovation, collaboration, and service delivery.

The workshop marks a first step in what is expected to be a longer process of dialogue and policy development. LUGARIT remains committed to supporting inclusive and constructive engagement on these issues and looks forward to future consultations across Syria that can help shape a legal framework capable of advancing civic agency and societal resilience.

Header Photo

Civic gathering. Idlib, Syria.  Photo © Ammar_Alzeer - via ShutterStock.  Link >

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