FR-INSEE-83764263600018-Output1.4
Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression
VDC’s database is effectively used in strategic litigation
VDC intends to continue providing evidentiary material to SCM’s litigation program, the IIIM, and other international partners engaged in litigation. This collaboration will involve designing a joint strategy to select the cases that would shed light on the most serious violations taking place in Syria, while successfully leading to the conviction of perpetrators. In order to do so, VDC intends to identify relevant information it can provide legal actors with, and strategically incorporate such considerations into its documentation methodology and tools. As part of its new database, VDC intends to develop a War Criminals Observatory, which would serve as a reliable database of alleged perpetrators of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Syria, as well as a Terrorists’ Observatories listing documented potential perpetrators of terrorist acts and/or organisations who took part in relevant activities in Syria. Both observatories appear to be essential tools to support strategic litigation efforts. VDC has already started working on this initiative and a significant number of suspects were identified, documented, and verified. VDC also intends to identify and monitor locations of interest to them and to SCM’s litigation program, such as prisons, courts, or mass graves.
Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression
Netherlands - Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Impunity Watch
Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression
Documentation Program
Marie-Ange Barbary
Deputy Director
deputy@scm.bz
This activity targets Syrian nationals, however cases are being raised in various European countries.
Documentation and litigation of human rights violations and international crimes
Documentation of human rights violations and international crimes
95067.15
Litigation support
Activity progress During the past year and throughout the reporting period, SCM’s litigation team invested in VDC’s available records while building profiles for the chain of command of some of the state and non-state actors of which case files are being prepared. The available documentation was also used in the process of designing background research and filling information gaps related to the use of chemical weapons. With the support of the VDC database, SCM’s litigation team was also able to identify several stakeholders at the suspect and witness levels which enabled access to further information. Throughout the reporting period, VDC/SCM also answered requests by three international police departments. The VDC database helped building different cases, which was raised in June 2019 in France for crimes against humanity and war crimes, the Center is currently working on raising this file in Germany and the Netherlands as well. The Dabbagh case was brought about before the French judiciary by the family, which resulted in the issuance in October 2018 of three international arrest warrants against Ali Mamlouk, Abdel Salam Mahmoud and Jamil Hassan, and the case of the Baba Amr media center in Homs in which journalists Mary Colvin and Rémi Ochlik were killed. It has also been supporting our collaboration with various war crimes units in Europe and Canada. The information of the database also helped in constituting other files, information will be given when relevant.
Legal cases
So far, the database helped build 3 cases, from which 3 arrest warrants were raised.
FR-INSEE-83764263600018-Output2.1
Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression
Violations database forms the background material for in-depth analytical research and studies
Through the development of a new documentation methodology, VDC intends to establish strong foundations to enable the conduct of in-depth qualitative and quantitative studies addressing patterns of violations that can serve to support and inform accountability efforts. This work aims to highlight the interconnected nature of legal, political and social issues and their influence on conflict and post-conflict dynamics so they can be better addressed as part of a transitional justice process. To do so, VDC will continue providing evidentiary material to relevant actors and keep producing monthly reports. Once the new methodology and tools are adopted, VDC intends to set up a team specialised in legal research and studies to support insightful discussions around current legal concerns where potential violations could emerge. VDC seeks to start a collaboration with a Human Rights Clinic to produce detailed evidence-based studies of emerging legal issues related to the Syrian conflict and engage with other civil society actors to identify emerging types of violations which require more attention. VDC intends to develop a specialised methodology to monitor and document violations key to a meaningful transitional process and prioritise the issue of the “safe return of refugees” in its engagement strategy by developing specific monitoring and documentation mechanisms to provide feedback on “voluntary return” cases. VDC intends to ensure clear conditions for a safe return are established and fully understood. A flawed implementation of safe return would result in the foreseeable reoccurrence of escape and asylum seeking.
Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression
Netherlands - Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Impunity Watch
Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression
Documentation Program
Marie-Ange Barbary
Deputy Director
0033 668033747
deputy@scm.bz
Study of issues related to the Syrian conflict.
Documentation of Human Rights violations and international crimes
95067.15
55455.83
First instalment
Identification: Up to June 2019
We aim to start focusing on this project more actively once the new documentation platform is developed and the data migrated in order to enable fact-based research. We however initiated a discussion with one Human Rights Clinic regarding a potential collaboration. A partnership with Swisspeace has started in order to draft a global vision on what and how should Transitional Justice for Syria be like. To achieve this goal a first workshop has been organized and the second will happen in August 2019.
Number of reports
FR-INSEE-83764263600018-FR-INSEE-83764263600018
Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression
New documentation methodology and tools are developed output 1.2
VDC is in the process of reviewing and restructuring its documentation methodology and tools in cooperation with its partner HURIDOCS. VDC has already started a standard review of existing data conducted by VDC’s data entry officers. This process will help identify gaps in the data collection methodology and documentation tools. VDC also initiated a collaboration with HURIDOCS and is in the process of producing a development plan for a new documentation platform addressing VDC’s documentation needs. VDC will need to design a new information infrastructure and provide HURIDOCS with basic lists and standard templates on which to build the structure of the database. Some features are already available while others will need to be developed. Once all the features necessary for data migration are available, VDC will start migrating existing data to the new platform. Because of the format of the current database and the quantity of data available, migration is likely to be a lengthy and delicate process. The documentation platform should come along with data collection tools, instruction manuals and a privacy policy. VDC intends to develop a new written documentation methodology, with a special focus on data collection. VDC will conduct a mapping of reliable sources across the country and a risk assessment for data collection which will eventually lead to training and capacity building activities, and the development of a written data collection guide. The new methodology should respect reliability and security standards, and should include the management and secure storage of on audiovisual material.
Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression
Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression
Documentation Program
Marie-Ange Barbary
Deputy Director
0033 668033747
deputy@scm.bz
Study of issues related to the Syrian conflict.
95067.15
1350.00
Project related staff costs
1350.00
Project related staff costs
1350.00
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1500.00
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1500.00
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1500.00
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350
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350
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350
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450
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450
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450
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450
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450
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450
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147
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147
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147
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147
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615
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615
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615
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615
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615
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615
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420
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420
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420
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420
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420
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420
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440.63
Project related staff costs
440.63
Project related staff costs
440.63
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440.63
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440.63
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440.63
Project related staff costs
210
Project related staff costs
210
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210
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210
Project related staff costs
192.5
Project related staff costs
192.5
Project related staff costs
192.5
Project related staff costs
192.5
Project related staff costs
192.5
Project related staff costs
192.5
Project related staff costs
400
Project related staff costs
400
Project related staff costs
400
Project related staff costs
400
Project related staff costs
400
Project related staff costs
400
Project related staff costs
650
Project related staff costs
650
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650
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650
Project related staff costs
70
Project related staff costs
70
Project related staff costs
70
Project related staff costs
70
Project related staff costs
70
Project related staff costs
70
Project related staff costs
70
Project related staff costs
70
Project related staff costs
70
Project related staff costs
70
Project related staff costs
70
Project related staff costs
70
Project related staff costs
65
Project related staff costs
65
Project related staff costs
65
Project related staff costs
65
Project related staff costs
65
Project related staff costs
65
Project related staff costs
65
Project related staff costs
65
Project related staff costs
65
Project related staff costs
65
Project related staff costs
65
Project related staff costs
65
Project related staff costs
65
Project related staff costs
65
Project related staff costs
65
Project related staff costs
65
Project related staff costs
65
Project related staff costs
65
Project related staff costs
65
Project related staff costs
65
Project related staff costs
65
Project related staff costs
65
Project related staff costs
65
Project related staff costs
65
Project related staff costs
65
Project related staff costs
65
Project related staff costs
65
Project related staff costs
65
Project related staff costs
65
Project related staff costs
65
Project related staff costs
65
Project related staff costs
65
Project related staff costs
65
Project related staff costs
65
Project related staff costs
65
Project related staff costs
65
Project related staff costs
65
Project related staff costs
65
Project related staff costs
65
Project related staff costs
65
Project related staff costs
65
Project related staff costs
65
Project related staff costs
65
Project related staff costs
65
Project related staff costs
65
Project related staff costs
65
Project related staff costs
65
Project related staff costs
65
Project related staff costs
65
Project related staff costs
65
Project related staff costs
65
Project related staff costs
65
Project related staff costs
65
Project related staff costs
4001
Activity and other costs
336
Project related consultants and partners
396
Project related consultants and partners
822.4
Activity and other costs
Activity progress: SCM re-initiated the collaboration with HURIDOCS in early 2018 on organisational security, part of which involved a needs assessment for VDC. SCM has been in contact with HURIDOCS since 2011 when developing the documentation tools was discussed and means of cooperation were explored. Due to the circumstances of SCM’s team detention and abduction, plans were not accomplished. Consequently VDC initiated a dialogue with HURIDOCS about a possible collaboration on a new documentation platform, which successfully led to a joint workshop on documentation methodology and tools in January 2019. Accordingly, VDC initiated in November 2018 a standard review and clean-up of its database conducted by VDC’s data entry team in order to help identify gaps in the data collection methodology and documentation tools. The documentation workshop that was held in Paris in January 2019 enabled VDC to properly review its current documentation methodology and platform and identify gaps and goals for the new documentation tools. Existing data, resources and methodology were reviewed and re-assessed, and goals and expectations from SCM’s Victims Associations Program (VAP) and Litigation Program were presented to the team in order to identify the needs for the new documentation tools. HURIDOCS also presented its main documentation platform, Uwazi. These information were then put together to identify specific issues related to the structure and content of the database, the public website, record and data management, access to data, retrieval and display of information, migration, export and import, storage, data collection and capacity building. The documentation led to the development of a joint action plan to develop Uwazi for SCM’s needs. SCM is currently in the process of applying for funds for the development of this new database.
Uwazi database developement
FR-INSEE-83764263600018-output1.1
Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression
VDC's documentation work continues as the new methodology and tools are developed
As the new documentation methodology and tools are developed, VDC intends to continue its daily work on documentation. Data on violations will keep being collected, verified, and entered on the database on a daily basis; monthly statistical reports and sporadic thematic reports will keep being drafted and published and partners will be provided with evidentiary material upon request.
Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression
Netherlands - Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Impunity Watch
Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression
Documentation Program
Marie-Ange Barbary
Deputy Director
0033 668033747
deputy@scm.bz
95067.15
55455.83
Activity progress during the reporting period: Throughout the reporting period, SCM/VDC continued its data collection and documentation activities as planned. Evidentiary material on violations by all parties all over the country was collected daily by our network of sources and data collectors. The data was then verified and entered regularly on the database. Evidence-based monthly reports were published regularly throughout the reporting period. One additional special report, summary report on the recent military attacks on Idlib and Hama in March 2019, was drafted and published, reporting the number of strikes and casualties in every municipality, giving a detailed account of the impact of the strikes that targeted the area at that time. To support advocacy efforts, SCM/VDC also published a summary statement on the recent offensive on Idlib and Hama in May 2019, as well as an infographics to documented the casualties over the entire offensive on the North. Geopolitical information: Changes in context during the reporting period During the reporting period, SCM/VDC witnessed the offensive on the Syrian North (Idlib and Hama), where some of its information providers were staying. This offensive follows a pattern that led to the displacement of information providers after previous similar offensives. Accordingly, VDC has been facing a modification in the allocation of information providers; data collectors were displaced from the area they cover which made it more difficult to obtain direct information, but correspondents have been relying on a network of indicators and information providers that kept communicating about the onfield reality of these regions.
Reports are published on a regular basis