The conflict in Syria has resulted in massive levels of displacement throughout the country, consequently leading to vast housing, land, and property (HLP) rights abuses. And with the various players involved in the conflict, civilians’ HLP rights are being impacted in distinct ways.
While such abuses predate the conflict, they have intensified dramatically throughout and within the context of the war—now at the hands of not only the Syrian regime but also other actors exercising control over different parts of the country.
HLP rights violations in Syria highlight the extent to which almost all parties of the conflict have violated civilians’ property rights, ignoring long-held principles of international humanitarian law. This three-part series looks to unpack and analyze the nature of these violations.
- The first explainer focuses on the systemic violation of HLP rights in government-held areas, where the regime has used such practices as a tool of punishment and to consolidate its power and control.
- The second explainer examines HLP rights abuses by nongovernment actors and looks at wide range of actors engaged in the ongoing conflict who have committed relevant violations against local populations, including ethnic and religious minorities.
- The third part comprehensively summarizes these abuses across the country, providing relevant policy recommendations for governments, international stakeholders, civil society organizations, and the private sector.