DeFacto Dialogue Foundation held an extensive discussion session titled “Transformation and Challenges” in the city of Afrin on April 11, 2026. The session brought together representatives of civil society organizations, local community leaders, members of the local population, and a number of returnees to the area.
This session marked a new step in a series of community dialogues aimed at addressing the issue of displaced persons’ return—one of the most complex challenges in northwest Syria.
During the discussion, a range of administrative, economic, security, and social challenges were highlighted. Participants put forward a set of recommendations that could serve as a foundation for a shared vision toward a more stable environment.
First: Administrative Recommendations
- Reform judicial institutions and amend property-related laws, particularly in border areas that have undergone major changes during the conflict.
- Establish effective legal mechanisms to restore property rights and activate reparation programs, including both material and moral compensation.
- Address administrative fragmentation by building common ground and an inclusive identity to reduce tensions between residents and returnees.
- Strengthen coordination between municipalities and local communities to develop a supportive environment for social entrepreneurship, with active youth participation in shaping initiatives.
- Implement training and capacity-building programs to improve administrative and service efficiency.
Second: Security Recommendations
- Enforce security and gradually remove the presence of weapons in the city in an organized manner.
- Build an effective judicial system that guarantees residents’ rights and reduces security concerns.
- Reveal the fate of missing persons and detainees as a fundamental step toward building trust between communities and controlling authorities.
- Develop local monitoring and accountability mechanisms to enhance justice and reduce violations.
Third: Economic Recommendations
- Encourage both local and foreign investment as a key driver for job creation.
- Support small and medium-sized enterprises to strengthen economic stability for returnees.
- Develop training and qualification programs for youth and professionals to improve integration into the labor market.
- Establish specialized associations and institutions for training in employment skills, sales, marketing, and professional development.
- Provide mechanisms to support innovation and entrepreneurship in line with local market needs.
Fourth: Social and Cultural Recommendations
- Address hate speech and dismantle stereotypes accumulated during years of conflict.
- Respect the cultural specificities of the region’s communities within clear legal frameworks.
- Promote collective work and cooperation among different social groups.
- Support educational and cultural activities that engage youth in a healthy and interactive environment.
- Integrate students into group-based learning within schools and activate educational activities that strengthen belonging and shared identity.
- Support artistic and cultural initiatives that enhance social cohesion.
Fifth: General Recommendations
- Any progress on the return issue requires genuine political will capable of enforcing security and guaranteeing rights.
- Continue organizing specialized dialogue sessions addressing legal, educational, economic, and administrative issues to reinforce stability.
- Adopt a realistic approach that takes into account political and security conditions to ensure these recommendations are applicable on the ground.
- Strengthen partnerships between local communities, municipalities, and civil society organizations to ensure the sustainability of proposed solutions.
Conclusion
These recommendations represent the outcome of in-depth discussions involving representatives from various components of the local community in Afrin. They reflect a collective will to address current challenges and emphasize that building a safe and stable environment for returnees requires integrated efforts across administrative, security, economic, and social levels.
DeFacto Foundation remains committed to continuing a series of specialized dialogues in the fields of law, education, economics, and administration, as part of a local effort to develop a realistic approach to stabilizing the region, pending improvements in political and security conditions that would allow these proposals to be effectively implemented on the ground.
