Survivors of serious human rights and international humanitarian law violations have a legal right to reparation, but in practice this is often inaccessible, leaving them without redress. This briefing examines how illicit assets linked to Syria’s civil war could be recovered and redirected to fund reparation for survivors. With a new Directive on Asset Recovery and Confiscation, a large share of frozen Syrian assets, and a stated commitment to supporting transitional justice as part of state and peace building, the EU and its Member States are well placed to act. The briefing sets out concrete recommendations to facilitate asset recovery for reparation in the Syrian context, informed by consultations with Syrian survivors and civil society.
