On this page, you will find:
To find organisations working for LGBTQI+ rights, visit our Syria LGBTQI+ Resources page.
For Syria country of information (COI) experts, reports, commentaries, and relevant documents visit our Syria COI page.
Refugee protection
Click here to see the numbers and origins of refugees hosted by the Syria.
The following sections contain information on the most important international treaties and agreements of which the Syria is signatory, as well as national legislation relevant to the protection of refugees.
The Syrian Arab Republic is not a party to the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol. As such the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is the only entity that provides international protection and registration services for asylum seekers and refugees in Syria.
In addition to not being a signatory to any relevant international protection regimes, the Syrian Arab Republic has not enacted any national-level refugee or asylum-specific legislation. However, national authorities issue residency permits to refugees and asylum seekers who meet immigration law criteria, possess a UNHCR-issued document, a national passport and legally entered Syria.
Legal aid organisations
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Address: 64, rue de Monthoux, 1201 Geneva, Switzerland
Tel: +41(0) 22 731 24 41
Email: internationalbridges@ibj.org
IBJ Syria was launched in 2017 with the establishment of a Defender Resource Center in Aleppo. IBJ helps to ensure that those accused of crimes are judged fairly in a court of law in northwest Syria by providing pro bono legal aid and legal consultations. IBJ will provide pro bono legal aid as early as upon one’s arrival in a police station.
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Address (HQ): 17 Route des Morillons 1218 Grand-Saconnex Switzerland
Tel: +41 22 717 911
Address (MENA Region): IOM Regional Office for the Middle East and North Africa, 47 C Abu-Elfeda Street, Cairo, Egypt
Tel: +202 2736 51 40
Email: ROCairo@iom.int
The IOM in Syria provides a range of support services in Syria and northwest Syria. The four broad areas of migration management include migration and development, facilitating migration, regulating migration, and addressing forced migration through a promotion of international legal standards, policy guidance, and protection of migrants’ rights. Some activities include the provision of shelter and settlements, direct health support, basic needs such as food, and protection services including legal aid.
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Address: Kafarsouseh P.O.Box: 30891 Damascus, Syria
Tel: +963 11 21812000
Email: syrda@unhcr.org
The UNHCR in Syria provides legal services to refugees and asylum seekers related to any significant protection issues including obtaining and renewing residency permits, birth registration, and other legal documentation. They also work on issues of non-refoulment, detention and exit visas, and GBV and child protection. Such provisions are carried out by either UNHCR legal teams or contracted lawyers from the local legal community.
Organisations providing other support to refugees
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Contact Person(s): Yaman Tahan (yaman.tahan@scm.ngo) or Simav Hasan (simav.hesen@csgateway.ngo)
The SCM has several units of work including the civil society and citizenship unit, justice and human rights, and media and freedoms unit. Depending on the nature of topic, the SCM will perform advocacy measures, trainings, and strategic litigation.
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Address: Harasta suburb – the eastern entrance – Autostrade Damascus, Homs, Damascus, Syria; P.O. Box: Damascus – Harasta 56
Tel: +963 11 33 27 691, +963 11 33 27 698, +963 11 33 27 645, and +963 11 33 27 646
Fax: +963 11 33 27 695
Email: info@sarc.sy and sarc@net.sy
The Syrian Arab Red Crescent is the local Red Cross branch that provides assistance to refugees both inside and outside of Damasus. Such assistance includes the provision of food, basic necessities, and medical assistance. The Syrian Arab Red Crescent works with the UNHR and WFP.
Syria LGBTQI+ Resources
Find organisations working for refugee LGBTQI+ rights in the Syria.
Syria COI
Find Syria Country of Origin information (COI) experts, reports, commentaries, and relevant documents.
We are always looking to expand the resources on our platform. If you know about relevant resources, or you are aware of organisations and/or individuals to include in our directories, please get in touch.
Last updated May 2023