Easing and Coping with Sanctions on Syria

We are currently working on a project called “A Multifaceted Approach to Easing and Coping with Sanctions on Syria”. This initiative aims to offer rigorous analysis and actionable recommendations to Syrian, European, American, and multilateral stakeholders, and to inform public opinion. A key concern is the “sanctions hangover”: the lingering uncertainty, reputational risk, and compliance fears that persist even after formal restrictions are removed. These effects threaten to undermine prospects for economic recovery. Through technical briefs, a monthly sanctions newsletter, legal aid, and direct advocacy, we aim to shape sanctions policy during a period of unprecedented fluidity. 

Project Objectives: 

• To launch and manage a pro bono legal platform. The platform will assist Syrian civil society, humanitarian, and early recovery actors in navigating post-sanctions compliance challenges, including legal uncertainty, reputational risk, and institutional reluctance
• To support Syrian advocacy groups by providing technical expertise and engagement strategies for interacting with Western governments and the United Nations on sanctions

• To strengthen Western diplomatic efforts by providing technical expertise and engagement strategies for engaging with the Syrian government and the private sector on sanctions issues

• To inform the public about remaining sanctions, including the broader US legal context that still includes Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT), State Sponsor of Terrorism (SST) designations and overlapping federal statutes.

Project Deliverables: 

• Monthly Sanctions Newsletter: A newsletter offering updates on the evolving sanctions landscape, US, EU, and UK policy developments, regional dynamics, and legal shifts. 
• Thematic Analytical Brief: Targeted papers (8–10 pages) on key topics such as asset unfreezing mechanisms, sectoral exemptions, humanitarian channels, alternative payment channels, FATF collaboration steps, and de-risking measures.
• Legal Aid: We will coordinate access to pro bono legal support platform to assist Syrian civil society, humanitarian, and early recovery actors in navigating post-sanctions compliance. We will triage legal queries, package requests, and ensure streamlined access to counsel, with insights feeding into our broader research and advocacy.
•  Advocacy Missions: We will conduct in-person meetings with sanctions policy decision-makers in Western governments and think tanks to influence the discourse. The advocacy missions will include roundtables and webinars bringing together stakeholders across the Syrian and Western policy communities.