Impact

Our intensive capacity building, training, and mentorship support programmes combined with the deep local knowledge and dedication of local partners has resulted in life-changing, sustainable impact.

We take great pride in our collaborative approach with local partners, and we believe that joint implementation of holistic programmes leads to lasting, meaningful impact.

Synergy for Justice was founded by practitioners determined to address the critical need to support medical-legal documentation for Syrian justice initiatives, ensure holistic responses for survivors of torture and sexual violence, and address the stigma surrounding survivors of torture and sexual violence.

Documenting the scale and nature of torture and sexual violence occurring in Syria has contributed to a global understanding of how to respond to survivors and support their quest for both justice and healing.

545 Syrian cases of torture and sexual violence forensically documented

183 medical and legal professionals trained on Istanbul Protocol medical evaluations

1245 first responders trained in interventions for survivors of sexual violence and torture

523 survivors of human rights violations referred for holistic life-saving services

548 cases submitted to European justice actors

456 women receiving psychosocial services

437 women receiving legal services

198 Syrian women whose voices perspectives and experiences informed the development of protocols to document and investigate sexual violence in Syria

Our partner-driven frontline response programme on the stigma associated with sexual violence is changing lives.

10,000+ Syrian community members who benefited from anti-stigma initiatives.

3,949 Syrian women provided input that informed design of anti-stigma community interventions.

129 community members were trained and empowered to implement stigma action plans.

Stigma action plans completed in 7 communities.

Synergy-trained doctors and lawyers are now

Documenting cases prolifically

Regularly training new cadres of medical expert documenters

Providing survivor-centered care

Making quality referrals

Reducing stigma for sexual violence

Running locally-registered organisations in Turkey, the UK, and the Netherlands 

Seven human rights reports
drafted and launched

Lacking Legal Basis: An Analysis of Arbitrary Arrest and Detention of Women in Syria

English | Arabic

Understanding What Syrian Women Face During and After Detention

English | Arabic

Stigma related to sexual violence
English | Arabic

Male sexual violence
English | Arabic

Women survivors of Syrian detention centers
English | Arabic

Child victims of torture and sexual violence
English | Arabic

Poor status of healthcare in Syrian detention centers
English | Arabic

Case Study

TACKLING STIGMA AT THE COMMUNITY LEVEL

Stigmatization and ostracism of survivors of sexual violence and torture can break family bonds, divide communities, and drive further conflict or violence at the community level, particularly in the form of gender-based violence. Survivors need allies and advocates in their community to help bridge those divisions and to overcome barriers to support, protection and justice. Coordinated community engagement is needed to tackle stigma and its impact head-on, and to ensure community cohesion and coalescence around survivor protection, support, reintegration, and access to justice. This involves designing and developing programmes to map, understand, and address the challenges presented by the stigma of torture, sexual violence, and other ill treatment. Together with our implementing partner, Synergy piloted a new frontline response programme from 2018-2020 on the stigma associated with sexual violence. Building on our first response training series, Synergy developed materials for use by our partners to mentor Syrian first responders as they conducted a gender mapping exercise of three communities in northern Syria and Turkey. Through mapping, we explored the root causes of stigma and gathered data on gender norms in homes, the workplace, and community, and gender-based violence. Building on this mapping, our partners trained and assisted local communities to develop and implement their own action plans to tackle stigma. The stigma teams have piloted mobile community action plans in 7 communities which have benefitted 2,886 Syrians. We have reached more than 10,000 Syrian community members through our anti-stigma initiatives.

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