The Syrian Ministry of Justice signed on Wednesday, October 1, a memorandum of understanding with the Syrian Development Organization worth $1.25 million (about 16.26 billion Syrian pounds), to implement the “Access to Justice” project in five Syrian provinces.
The ministry said through its official channels that the memorandum comes as part of its cooperation with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Syria, under the supervision of Justice Minister Mazhar al-Wais.
The project will be implemented in Aleppo, Idlib, Latakia, Homs, and Rural Damascus, and includes several activities:
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Restoring three Sharia courts in Aleppo, Idlib, and Latakia to activate basic legal services such as marriage registration and dispute resolution.
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Providing a mobile court to serve rural areas and facilitate access to the judiciary.
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Launching four mobile and fixed citizen service centers to issue civil documents and provide legal support in affected and remote areas.
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Conducting legal awareness sessions on personal and civil documentation.
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Promoting a culture of alternative dispute resolution.
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Establishing electronic linkage between the Ministry of Justice and the Directorate of the Land Registry in Damascus.
According to the ministry, the “Access to Justice” project aims to support local communities and facilitate individuals’ access to justice and legal services.
International cooperation meetings
On September 23, Minister Mazhar al-Wais met with Marie Forestier, Syria adviser at the European Institute of Peace, at the ministry headquarters in Damascus, to enhance cooperation between the institute and the ministry.
The meeting addressed issues related to supporting the peace process and strengthening justice and the rule of law. Both sides stressed the importance of continued communication and exchange of expertise to improve judicial work and support efforts aimed at enhancing stability in Syria, the ministry said.
Al-Wais stated that the ministry is keen on engaging with initiatives supporting justice and peace.
On September 18, the minister also received a delegation from the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Syria, headed by Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro, with secretariat head Lena Arvidsson present.
Al-Wais affirmed the Syrian government’s commitment to upholding principles of justice, holding perpetrators of violations accountable from all sides, and reinforcing the policy of combating impunity. He said the ministry works within an integrated vision to strengthen judicial independence, respect human rights, and build a state of citizenship that guarantees the rights of all citizens.
He also referred to the Ministry of Justice’s role in overseeing military courts and following up on cases related to events in the coastal region and Suwayda (southern Syria), as part of a comprehensive plan to reform the sector in line with principles of transitional justice, according to the ministry.
The minister highlighted the ministry’s efforts to monitor the legal status of detainees, ensure their legal rights, and provide fair trial conditions, in addition to the ongoing reform of the entire judicial system and addressing the legacies of the former regime.
The delegation from the International Commission of Inquiry expressed the importance of maintaining communication channels to better understand the realities in Syria in a way that serves the principles of justice and the rule of law.
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