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Non-profit

Syrian Legal Development Programme (SLDP)

Website:

sldp.ngo/en/
Type:

Foreign Non-Profit Organization
Formation:

2013
Executive Director:

Sama Kiki
Headquarters:

Fifth Floor, 30-31 Furnival Street

London, England

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Syrian Legal Development Programme (SLDP) is a London-based advocacy organization that supports international organizations in Syria and engages with United Nations (UN) agencies regarding the Syrian Civil War. 1 2

SLDP has published reports alleging that UN supplier contracts in Syria have been involved in human rights abuses and that $68 million worth of UN projects in the region went to individuals sanctioned by the United States, United Kingdom, or European Union. 3 The group has collaborated with left-of-center nonprofit Human Rights Watch 4 5 and the Observatory of Political and Economic Networks. 6

SDLP is funded by the European Union, the Swiss Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Canadian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the German Foreign Office. 7

History and Leadership

Syrian Legal Development Programme (SLDP) was founded in 2013 8 by Ibrahim Olabi in response to the Syrian Civil War. 9 Prior to founding SLDP, Ibrahim worked as a legal consultant on Syria-related issues for the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, International Bar Association, and the Open Society Justice Initiative, which is a project of liberal donor George Soros’s Open Society Foundations. 10

Sama Kiki is the executive director of SLDP. Prior to joining SLDP, Kiki was an activist on topics including critical race theory-influenced gender-sensitive justice, youth, and oral history topics in Syrian society. 11

SLDP’s research director Zahra Albarazi previously worked at the United Nations, Women’s Refugee Commission, International Rescue Committee, Open Society Justice Initiative, and the Amel Association International’s Amel House of Human Rights. She was also a fellow at the Social Change Initiative. 12

Activities and Funding

Syrian Legal Development Programme (SLDP) is a London-based advocacy organization 13 consisting of researchers, lawyers, and human rights advocates that works to promote the rule of law and minimize the negative humanitarian consequences of the Syrian Civil War. 14 SLDP uses its legal expertise and knowledge to address current and developing legal needs in Syria for whom it considers relevant stakeholders, organizations, humanitarian workers, temporary institutions, and the general public. 15

SLDP supports international organizations engaged in Syria and engages with United Nations (UN) agencies regarding the Syrian Civil War, sanctions regimes, and aid to support Syria’s reconstruction. The group also raises awareness of the business and financial mechanisms available to punish alleged human rights violations from both the conflict and reconstruction. 16

SLDP has published reports analyzing United Nations suppliers in Syria that claimed half of all contracts were involved in human rights abuses. SLDP has also claimed that one-fourth of UN projects in Syria worth $68 million went to individuals who were sanctioned by the United States, United Kingdom, or European Union. 17 SLDP has collaborated with the left-of-center Human Rights Watch 18 19 and the Observatory of Political and Economic Networks, 20 is on the board of directors of the left-of-center pro-Syrian coalition WE Exist, 21 and is a participant in the Syrian Legal Platform. 22

The organization also runs an International Law Support Unit (ILSU) and a Human Rights and Business Unit (HRBU) to support stakeholders and broader efforts to influence the rule of law. This includes support for alternative forms of accountability against alleged corporate-related human rights abuses during the Syrian Civil War. 23

Funding

Syrian Legal Development Programme is funded by the Swiss Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Canada’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Federal Republic of Germany’s Foreign Office, and the European Union. 24

References

  1. “Locations.” LinkedIn Profile. Accessed November 9, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/company/syrian-legal-development-programme/about/.
  2. “What We Do.” Syrian Legal Development Programme. Accessed November 9, 2023. https://sldp.ngo/en/what-we-do.
  3. Chehayeb, Kareem. “Support finds sanctioned Syrians benefit from UN contracts.” October 26, 2022. Accessed November 9, 2023. https://apnews.com/article/europe-middle-east-business-syria-united-nations-1334286b786e27c29e61d0bad5109ca2.
  4. “Reports and Guides.” Syrian Legal Development Programme. Accessed November 9, 2023. https://sldp.ngo/en/reports-and-guides.
  5. “HRW and LSDP Guide on Human Rights-Compliant Procurement Processes in Syria.” Human Rights Watch and Syrian Legal Development Platform. 2022. Accessed November 9, 2023. https://sldp.ngo/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/HRW-SLDP-Guide-to-Procurement-and-Risk-Assessment-Tool.pdf.
  6. “The Troubling Reality Behind the UN’s Procurement Contracts in Syria.” Middle East Institute. October 25, 2022. Accessed November 9, 2023. https://www.mei.edu/events/troubling-reality-behind-uns-procurement-contracts-syria.
  7. “Home.” Syrian Legal Development Programme. Accessed November 9, 2023. https://sldp.ngo/en/.
  8. “About.” Syrian Legal Development Programme LinkedIn Page. Accessed November 8, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/company/syrian-legal-development-programme/about/.
  9. “About.” Syrian Legal Development Programme LinkedIn Page. Accessed November 8, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/company/syrian-legal-development-programme/about/.
  10.  “Who We Are.” Syrian Legal Development Programme. Accessed November 9, 2023. https://sldp.ngo/en/our-team.
  11. “Who We Are.” Syrian Legal Development Programme. Accessed November 9, 2023. https://sldp.ngo/en/our-team.
  12. “Who We Are.” Syrian Legal Development Programme. Accessed November 9, 2023. https://sldp.ngo/en/our-team.
  13. “Locations.” LinkedIn Profile. Accessed November 9, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/company/syrian-legal-development-programme/about/.
  14. “About.” Syrian Legal Development Programme LinkedIn Page. Accessed November 8, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/company/syrian-legal-development-programme/about/.
  15. “About.” Syrian Legal Development Programme LinkedIn Page. Accessed November 8, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/company/syrian-legal-development-programme/about/.
  16. “What We Do.” Syrian Legal Development Programme. Accessed November 9, 2023. https://sldp.ngo/en/what-we-do.
  17. Chehayeb, Kareem. “Support finds sanctioned Syrians benefit from UN contracts.” October 26, 2022. Accessed November 9, 2023. https://apnews.com/article/europe-middle-east-business-syria-united-nations-1334286b786e27c29e61d0bad5109ca2
  18. “Reports and Guides.” Syrian Legal Development Programme. Accessed November 9, 2023. https://sldp.ngo/en/reports-and-guides.
  19. “HRW and LSDP Guide on Human Rights-Compliant Procurement Processes in Syria.” Human Rights Watch and Syrian Legal Development Platform. 2022. Accessed November 9, 2023. https://sldp.ngo/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/HRW-SLDP-Guide-to-Procurement-and-Risk-Assessment-Tool.pdf.
  20. “The Troubling Reality Behind the UN’s Procurement Contracts in Syria.” Middle East Institute. October 25, 2022. Accessed November 9, 2023. https://www.mei.edu/events/troubling-reality-behind-uns-procurement-contracts-syria.
  21. “Board of Directors.” WE exist. Accessed November 11, 2023. https://weexist-sy.org/partners/.
  22. “Participants in The Syrian Legal Platform.” Syrian Legal Platform. Accessed November 9, 2023. https://legal-sy.org/partners/.
  23. “Mission & Vision.” Syrian Legal Development Programme. Accessed November 9, 2023. https://sldp.ngo/en/mission-vision.
  24. “Home.” Syrian Legal Development Programme. Accessed November 9, 2023. https://sldp.ngo/en/.
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