Publications - badael.org

Patching Holes in Peace Mediation

Patching holes in Peace Mediation discusses the importance of creating independent "think spaces" for traditionally excluded groups, particularly women in Syria, to contribute meaningfully to peace mediation efforts. It highlights the limitations of current inclusivity approaches and argues for patient investment in transformative approaches. This publication details how Badael's forums provide a non-prescriptive space for Syrian women to reimagine feminist political action and challenge existing patriarchal and colonial constraints in peacebuilding. It focuses on the second iteration of these forums, exploring legitimacy and accountability in peace mediation, particularly in the context of the EU and UN's involvement in Syria. The report captures participants' visions and identifies key questions for enhancing legitimacy and accountability in peace mediation.

Manoeuvring Blue Buildings for a Youth-Led Syria

Manoeuvring Blue Buildings for a Youth-Led Syria focuses on Badael's youth platform initiative, designed to empower and mobilize young Syrians as agents of change in their communities. It highlights the importance of creating spaces for learning, activism, and civic engagement among youth, particularly in Northern Syria. The platform, through think spaces, addressed five key issues identified by young participants: Safe Spaces, Social Cohesion and Inclusion, Militarism and Destructive Spaces, Formal and Informal Education, and Political Participation and Civic Engagement. The paper explores the experiences of exclusion faced by Syrian youth, especially young women, and discusses their dissatisfaction with the gap between international youth policy frameworks and their implementation on the ground. The "blue buildings" are used symbolically to represent this exclusion. The outcomes of the think spaces have been compiled into five knowledge papers, with this publication likely being one of them or a summary of their findings.

A Right Not A Luxury

A Right Not Luxury Formal and informal education in Northern Syria presents the findings of a Badael-facilitated think space focused on formal and informal education in Northern Syria. As part of a larger youth platform initiative aimed at empowering young Syrians, this think space brought together youth to discuss the challenges and opportunities related to education in the context of ongoing conflict. The paper explores the impact of prolonged and normalized violence on access to and quality of education, highlighting the difficult choices faced by a generation of young people.

Militarism and Destructive Environments From the Perspective of Youth in Northern Syria

This paper presents the findings of a Badael-supported think space exploring “Militarism and Destructive Environments” from the perspective of youth in Northern Syria. As part of a broader youth platform initiative, this think space provided a platform for young Syrians to discuss and analyze the impact of militarism and conflict on their lives and communities. The paper captures their experiences and perspectives on this critical issue.

Social Cohesion from the Perspective of Youth in Northern Syria

This paper presents the findings from a Badael-facilitated think space where young Syrians explored "Social Cohesion" in Northern Syria. As part of a larger youth platform initiative, this think space allowed youth to share their perspectives and analyze the challenges and opportunities related to social cohesion within their communities. The paper captures their insights and understanding of this complex issue.

Safe Spaces for Youth in Northern Syria

This paper reports on the findings of a Badael-organized think space focused on "Safe Spaces for Youth in Northern Syria." As part of a broader youth platform initiative, this think space provided a dedicated space for young Syrians to discuss and analyze what constitutes safe spaces for them in their conflict-affected context. The paper captures their perspectives and understandings of this crucial topic.

Lights Through The Cracks

This paper explores how to improve EU consultations with civil society, particularly regarding gender-responsive outcomes in conflict contexts like Syria. It discusses the challenges of current consultation methods, including perceived staleness and a power imbalance between the EU and civil society organizations. The paper details a Badael-organized think space in Brussels that brought together EU officials and Syrian experts to collaboratively reimagine consultative spaces and find practical ways to enhance their effectiveness in achieving gender-responsive results. It shares the insights gained from this collaborative reflection, aiming to improve future EU engagement with civil society.

Weaving Feminist Political Action

This paper discusses the stagnant state of international peace efforts in Syria, exacerbated by the war in Ukraine and a general sense of abandonment among Syrians. It highlights the fragmented narratives surrounding the ongoing conflict and emphasizes the urgent need for spaces where new thinking and reimagining can occur. The paper focuses on a two-day dialogue forum, "Weaving Feminist Political Action," held in Berlin, which brought together Syrian women political and feminist actors to reimagine peace and political processes in Syria. It weaves together discussions and questions from the forum with the author's own reflections on the situation.

In Search For Justice

This paper examines gender-based violence (GBV) against women in Syria, focusing on violence experienced in their everyday lives rather than solely as a weapon of war. It argues that GBV in Syria is intertwined with pre-existing socio-economic injustices, patriarchal norms, and a discriminatory legal framework, exacerbated by the conflict. The paper critiques traditional transitional justice approaches as inadequate for addressing GBV and proposes a transformative justice approach centered on women's voices and lived experiences. Through oral histories of four Syrian women, the paper explores four forms of GBV, analyzing their impact and connection to the broader context. It emphasizes the need to understand the structural inequalities behind GBV to design…

Pathways of Feminist Movement Building in Post 2011 Syria

This research report examines women's organizing in Syria, drawing from existing literature on women's and feminist movements, social movements, and research specific to Syria and the MENA region. The report emphasizes a bottom-up approach to understanding women's political engagement, moving beyond a focus on formal political participation to include community action, social movements, and everyday activism. It incorporates the concept of intersectionality, recognizing the diverse experiences of Syrian women based on intersecting identities like ethnicity, political orientation, and class. The report also analyzes different forms of women's organizing, categorizing them into women empowerment groups, women's rights movements, and feminist movements. Finally, it considers the broader context of the Syrian revolution, highlighting the expansion of the political domain and the importance of understanding how this expanded space is gendered.

Approaches to Syrian Civil Society Dossier

This collection of articles explores the complexities and challenges facing Syrian civil society since the 2011 revolution. It examines how civil society has evolved in a volatile environment, grappling with issues of funding, ethical dilemmas, and the tension between emergency response and long-term goals. The collection aims to shed light on internal discussions and debates within Syrian civil society, addressing the lack of transparency and the chilling effect of social media criticism. It prioritizes the voices of activists and practitioners, offering diverse perspectives on topics such as feminist organizing, the relationship between civil society and victims' groups, the challenges of working in regime-controlled areas, and the impact of sanctions and strategic litigation. While acknowledging limitations, such as the exclusion of humanitarian work and a deliberate avoidance of the financing issue, the collection seeks to stimulate public debate and contribute to a deeper understanding of Syrian civil society.

Syrian Women’s Perspective on life in Turkey

The report you provided focuses on the experiences of Syrian women refugees in Turkey and doesn't contain statistical data or concrete numbers about different groups, including racial groups. It primarily discusses the challenges faced by Syrian refugees, particularly women, in accessing their rights, the role of civil society organizations, and the issue of racism. It highlights the need for a rights-based approach to refugee issues and the importance of addressing the root causes of racism.

Peace journalism or War Journalism?

This research analyzes the impact of Arab media groups (AMGs) on the Syrian conflict, specifically in the northern territories outside of regime control. It investigates whether these AMGs have practiced peace journalism by promoting unity and de-escalation, or war journalism by fueling polarization through diverse discourse. The study also examines the characteristics of the AMGs themselves, their staff, and how audiences use these media platforms. Essentially, it explores the role of AMGs in shaping the narrative and potentially influencing the trajectory of the conflict in a specific region of Syria.

Peace Building Defines Our Future Now

This study examines women's activism in Syria before and after the 2011 uprising, focusing on their peacebuilding efforts amidst escalating violence. Based on questionnaires, interviews, and focus group discussions with women activists and civil society groups across various regions of Syria (excluding some inaccessible areas due to security concerns), the research reveals that most women define peacebuilding as a process involving ceasefire, inclusive negotiations, and equal rights. They view civil society as crucial for peacebuilding, contrasting it with self-serving political parties and international actors. Motivated by personal experiences of discrimination or a sense of obligation, many engage in peacebuilding as a means of societal reconstruction. While some express reservations about the concept of "peacebuilding" itself, this often stems from differing interpretations rather than opposition to nonviolence. Peacebuilding activities vary by region, reflecting local contexts and priorities. Funding shortages and a lack of training are major obstacles, hindering the effectiveness of these initiatives. Despite challenges like ongoing violence, patriarchal attitudes, and restrictions on movement, women activists leverage growing public support for nonviolence and build upon the expanding civil society to promote peace, reconciliation, and equal rights.

Activism in Difficult Times

This study examines the emergence and role of Syrian civil society activists since the 2011 uprising. It highlights their crucial contributions to democracy, justice, and humanitarian aid amidst the ongoing conflict, while also acknowledging the immense dangers and persecution they face. The study, conducted as part of the Badael Project, emphasizes the importance of understanding the dynamics of Syrian civil society to support its empowerment and effectiveness. Based on data collected through Badael's on-the-ground network, the report analyzes the challenges and opportunities facing civil society groups. It covers the period up to February 2014, noting the subsequent deterioration of working conditions, particularly with the rise of ISIS.