The regime owns and controls most of the media in Syria. It does not respect the right of its citizens to freedom of expression and access to information. There is direct official censorship of material deemed to be critical of the government. Journalists who question the government’s policies often find themselves in prison. The regime blocks many opposition websites, which are critical of its policies. It also blocks social networking sites such as Facebook and Youtube. This is totally unacceptable. ODFS campaigns for the end of press censorship in Syria. In a democratic Syria there would be complete freedom of the press.

ODFS is firmly committed to advancing the rights of Syrian women and ensuring their full participation in all aspects of public life. Despite their resilience and vital contributions, Syrian women remain underrepresented in political, economic, and social spheres, and continue to face deep-rooted discrimination. ODFS promotes greater inclusion of women in leadership roles and supports initiatives that empower them to shape public policy, participate in the workforce, and strengthen civil society.

Extremism and militancy in Syria is a problem for the region and the world. Dictatorship, along with poverty and ignorance has bred extremism, militancy and violence. This has helped to create bigger divisions in Syrian society. Having a civil democratic Syria is the best way to contain and defeat extremism because democracy would create necessary and legitimate channels for people to present their demands and grievances to the state.

It is imperative that the Middle East peace process is re-started. ODFS believes that peace in the Middle East can be achieved through a two state solution with a viable, independent and democratic state of Palestine and the return of all of the Golan Heights to Syria in a land for peace deal. A democratic Syria would help achieve peace and security.

Syria has a poor human rights record. ODFS promotes human rights in Syria and highlights cases of persecution. Syria operates under a highly restrictive state of emergency. The government systematically represses citizens from all parts of society. Security forces have sweeping powers of arrest and detention. They regularly arrest and detain individuals without just cause. Hundreds of people have been arrested for expressing dissent against the government and for promoting human rights. Many of them have been imprisoned incommunicado without trial. Detainees are often ill treated and tortured. Trials that do take place are in courts which do not respect international standards for fair trials.

The Syrian Kurdish minority is repressed by the regime and faces discrimination and persecution. They are denied equal access to social and economic rights. This state of affairs cannot continue. The Syrian Kurds must be recognised as citizens of Syria with full rights.

Corruption is rife in Syrian society and state institutions. Syria needs urgent economic reform. Of course political reform bringing transparency and accountability is a prerequisite to economic reform. The Syrian economy cannot be run on the basis of the regime’s nepotism and favouritism. Every Syrian deserves opportunity and prosperity. Syria must be transformed into a market economy with the end of socialist authoritarian control. Innovation and enterprise are needed to create jobs for the masses. This coupled with new foreign investment would be a sound foundation for future economic growth.

ODFS promotes democracy and freedom in Syria through peaceful means. Syria’s authoritarian and controlling regime has oppressed people, denied freedom of expression and association, violated human rights, and mismanaged the economy. Tyranny, corruption and poverty are widespread. There is no rule of law. The regime uses the pretext of the state of emergency to suppress democracy and freedom. Human rights and democracy activists are often harassed, persecuted, arrested and imprisoned without due process. There is no equality of opportunity and no social justice.

Of course things are not going to change over night but the process of change and political reform must start immediately. It must be peaceful and transitional through engagement and dialogue with all groups who believe in democracy. Strong and properly functioning political parties, which are independent of the regime, must be allowed to exist and flourish in Syria. This is critical to developing an effective pluralist democracy. All political parties should be able to take part in free and fair elections.

Developing civil society in Syria is vital for its citizens to be genuinely engaged and empowered to participate in political processes. Therefore democratic political institutions must be strenghtened and accessible to voters. Only then will ordinary Syrians be able influence social, economic, and cultural policy, and make informed choices at the ballot box.

Syria needs a new democratic constitution, which guarantees the separation of powers, independence of the judiciary and which protects the rights of individuals, groups and minorities regardless of religion, ethnic group or sex. The rights that citizens enjoy would reflect the duties they owe. In a new pluralist secular Syria, citizens would have full rights under the rule of law.

In a democracy there would be an end to government control over civil society, unions, commerce and industry. The government and its ministers would be held to account through democratic checks and balances. Corruption in state institutions would be tackled through democratic accountabilty. A democratic Syria will help achieve peace, stablity and security in Syria and the Middle East.