Dawlaty is a nonprofit foundation that advocates for a liberal and democratic Syria. It promotes social change within the country through media coverage and reports and aims to preserve the memory of previous democratic uprisings.

Background

Dawlaty was founded to advocate for a liberal democratic Syria with observance of human rights, gender equality, tolerance, and diversity. It aims to empower other groups aligned with carrying out this vision. ¹

It was created in 2012 during an uprising against the regime of Bashar al-Assad, as part of the wider “Arab Spring” revolutions across the Arabic world. It was conceived as a platform to distribute pro-democracy literature and to aid activists in pushing for a democratic transformation of the country. ²

Activities

Publications

In February 2022, Dawlaty published “Reclaiming Public Spaces: Syrian Feminist Narratives and Approaches to Political Participation.” The paper aimed to redefine and deconstruct “politics” to “liberate this field from the dominant patriarchal modes of thinking.” It derives concepts from focus groups with over 50 women in Turkey, Lebanon, and Syria orchestrated by its partners in the “Gender-sensitive Transitional Justice” project. ^{3 4}

That month, it also published “Syrian Civil Society Booklet – Status and Best Practices,” a guide to the progress of Syria’s liberal nonprofit ecosystem. It contrasts the myriad ideologies that animate the groups and recommends ways policy organizations can address societal needs. ⁵

WE Exist Membership

Dawlaty is a member of the board of directors of the Syrian liberal democratic collective WE Exist, alongside the Hurras Network, Impact, the Syrian Legal Development Program, and Women Now for Development. ⁶

WE Exist is a collective of Syrian “civil society organizations” that promotes human rights, a pluralistic and democratic Syria, and speech rights for nonprofit organizations. It called for the end to the Syrian Civil War and advocated for the formation of a “peaceful and democratic Syria.” It conceives of this new-found Syria as one supported and led by civil society organizations. ⁷

In addition to democratic values, WE Exist directly advocates for justice and accountability in itself and in Syrian society, and claims that the country already has “an active, vibrant, young and dynamic civil society” that is being suppressed. ⁸ It is affiliated with major NGO Amnesty International. ⁹

Network

Dawlaty’s network of supporters and affiliate includes the Ford Foundation, European Endowment for Democracy, the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), Actionaid Denmark, Sigrid Rausing Trust, Kvinna till Kvinna, and the Asfari Foundation. ¹⁰

Leadership

Dawlaty’s founders had experience at United Nations agencies as staff and advisers, as well as NGOs and regional activist organizations, before starting the group. ¹¹

1. “About Us.” Dawlaty, May 29, 2017. Accessed November, 4, 2023. https://dawlaty.org/about-us/.
2. “About Us.” Dawlaty, May 29, 2017. Accessed November, 4, 2023. https://dawlaty.org/about-us/.
3. “Reclaiming Public Spaces – Syrian Feminist Narratives and Approaches (PDF)” Dawlaty, February 14, 2022. Accessed November 4, 2023. https://dawlaty.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Reclaiming-Public-Spaces-Syrian-Feminist-Narratives-and-Approaches.pdf.
4. “Reclaiming Public Spaces – Syrian Feminist Narratives and Approaches (PDF).” Dawlaty, February 14, 2022. Accessed November 4, 2023. https://dawlaty.org/publications/reclaiming-public-spaces-syrian-feminist-narratives-and-approaches-to-political-participation/.
5. ^[1] “Syrian Civil Society Booklet.” Dawlaty, February 2, 2022. Accessed November 4, 2023. https://dawlaty.org/publications/syrian-civil-society-booklet-status-and-best-practices/.
6. “Partners.” WE Exist. Accessed November 9, 2023. https://weexist-sy.org/partners/.
7. “About.” WE Exist. Accessed November 9, 2023. https://weexist-sy.org/about/.
8. “About.” WE Exist. Accessed November 9, 2023. https://weexist-sy.org/about/.
9. “Partners.” WE Exist. Accessed November 4, 2023. https://weexist-sy.org/partners/.
10. “About Us.” Dawlaty, May 29, 2017. Accessed November, 4, 2023. https://dawlaty.org/about-us/.
11. “About Us.” Dawlaty, May 29, 2017. Accessed November, 4, 2023. https://dawlaty.org/about-us/.