Publication date: December 2014
Between May 15th, and August 5th, 2014, The Day After (TDA) conducted a pilot survey in a number of Syrian provinces on transitional justice, reconciliation and human rights. The survey included 72 questions on issues of justice, accountability for violence and human rights violations, documentation, reforms, reparations, amnesty and accountability.
Findings in this pilot survey suggest the majority of respondents hold the Syrian regime largely responsible for instigating the current conflict and sustaining it, with a smaller quota of accountability placed upon various regional and international forces. Given the severity of the violence in Syria, the fair trial of most responsible persons was the top justice priority for the majority of those sampled — with what might be characterized as longer-term lesser-priorities (such as democracy and reconciliation) much lower on such lists. However, in the longer-term, reform of government institutions is considered the most important element for conflict resolution.
Although a majority of the Sunni population sampled favour Sharia law and courts with regard to the future administration of justice, it would appear that a significant portion of women, the better-educated and ethnic minorities do not. In the long-term, a significant majority from all ethnic and religious backgrounds welcomed the prospect of a national dialogue to resolve Syria’s problems, with the drafting of a new constitution to international human rights standards.
