Daraa communities foot the bill for public education Our partner Syria Direct published an article on Education in Daraa Province in Syria. Facing a teacher shortage and little government support, communities in Daraa are turning to alternative solutions: providing financial bonuses to keep underpaid teachers in classrooms and repairing school buildings themselves. This report was originally published in Arabic and translated into English by Mateo Nelson.
Don't forget the suffering and pain Laudation In her laudation, Lotte Leicht pays tribute to people like Joumana Seif who do not demand revenge for crimes committed against them and their relatives, but who insist on justice. By Lotte Leicht
A tribute to a woman who is making legal history Speech With her work the lawyer Joumana Seif has played a critical role in having sexualised violence recognised as an offence that constitutes a crime against humanity, says Dr. Imme Scholz, head of the Anne Klein Women's Award jury. By Imme Scholz
How I energise myself to do the work I do Speach In her acceptance speech Joumana Seif talks about the long road necessary to prosecute the crimes committed by the Syrian regime, to punish the perpetrators and also about the injustices suffered by women and how she is trying to support them in Germany.
Practically and legally feasible: temporary residency plans for earthquake survivors must not founder on red tape! Commentary Just days after the devastating earthquake and as the first vehicles loaded with relief supplies set off from German airports in the region, the German Federal Ministry of the Interior and Community and the Federal Foreign Office made an announcement in favour of further assistance: families with a Turkish or Syrian background would be able to take in their family members affected by the earthquake on a temporary basis. By Bente Scheller , Kirsten Krampe and Kristian Brakel
Covid-19 pandemic, vaccine distribution and global justice: the story so far Analysis We are experiencing two very different pandemic realities between low-income and high-income countries. Unfortunately, instead of seeking a solidarity-based response, the international community has once again demonstrated its disunity in this health crisis. The task now is to regain credibility and rebuild trust. This Article was first published on 16 February 2022 on eu.boell.org By Barbara Unmüßig
Denmark: Flawed country of origin reports lead to flawed refugee policies JOINT STATEMENT Denmark decided as the only European country to lift the refugee status of a number of Syrian refugees based on its conclusion that Damaskus is safe for return. This policy is largely based on the Danish Ministry of Immigration's "Country of Origin" report of 2019. A number of experts quoted in these report, among them Dr. Bente Scheller, Heinrich Boell Stiftung speak out against how their expertise was used to justify a step that is not in line with European policies. In this statement, they urge the Danish government to revise their policy and respect international law that requires a safe, voluntary and dignified return for which they do not see the conditions met. #SyriaNotSafe #Syria #Denmark
The agony of remembering the violence Article The essay aims to elaborate the aim of the widespread and excessive use of cluster munitions by the Syrian government and its ally Russia against civilians in the Idlib region, particularly between 2019 and 2020. By Rula Asad
Yours Truly, From Idlib Photo Essay The deeper we dug with Tim into the stories of joy coupled with the losses, of hopes nipped in the bud yet re-emerging, the more we were convinced that this way, of not only sharing impressions but displaying the sweet and sour broader context of the reality behind these photos, really matters. For that, we paired Tim with Syrian writer and rapper Hani Al Sawah whose words helped create a personal narrative telling the story. The collaborative work speaks volumes about civilians doing what any civilian should be doing - living. Buying and selling. Diving into the unknown. Fishing. Barbecuing. Celebrating weddings and public holidays. Or for children: learning at school or simply spending time at a playground. By Tim Alsiofi and Hani Al Sawah
Feminist foreign policy - imperative for a more secure and just world Introduction Kristina Lunz and Nina Bernarding, who are leading the Centre for Feminist Foreign Policy in Germany explain why a peaceful world will remain an utopia without a feminist foreign policy.
