31 January, 2022 - In the presence of sanctions and other prevailing risks, Western actors conducting business in Syria have been limited. However, Russian, Iranian, and Chinese companies are interested - or have expressed interest - in conducting business in Syria. The paper will help in the understanding of the interrelations and role that is being played by Russian, Iranian, and Chinese businesses. It is a fact-finding effort to document the involvement of those businesses, and aims to provide evidence of how these businesses’ activities in Syria are contributing - or may be at risk of contributing - to human rights abuses in the country. The paper aims to support relevant stakeholders, to assist in data collection that would be beneficial when conducting an impact analysis of the human rights resulting from such business activities, by facilitating the identification of the specific human rights risks associated with the Syrian context.

The research was sponsored by Baytna and conducted by the Human Rights and Business Unit (HRBU) of the Syrian Legal Development Programme (SLDP). HRBU was launched in April 2018 as a stand-alone unit to address business related human rights concerns that arise in Syria. Since its establishment, SLDP has received support from the Swiss FDFA, the Dutch MFA, and the European Union. HRBU has engaged in a number of activities aimed at building Syrian civil society’s capacity in business and human rights law, including workshops, trainings, and developing a Business and Human Rights toolkit for Syria. SLDP has also monitored and documented business related human rights violations in Syria and developed a number of reports1. HRBU has further engaged with various stakeholders in business activity in Syria, including international organizations, state actors, UN bodies, and humanitarian aid organizations. The Unit also aims to ensure the increased ability of stakeholders, including Syrian NGOs, state actors, and INGOs, to influence and use alternative forms of accountability against businesses involved in conflict related human rights abuses in Syria.