Purpose of this Guide

This short guide first introduces the concept of property rights, providing a general and simplified definition.

Next, the guide puts the concept within its legal frames, which both define and regulate property rights locally and internationally, reviewing related international and regional treaties. The guide also sheds light on operative Syrian laws applicable to the subject matter.

Because there are diverse forms and patterns of property rights violations, multiple potential perpetrators, and various legal frames, the guide narrows down its scope of coverage by inscribing examples of practices labeled as property right violations under different legal bodies. However, the incorporated examples are uncomprehensive, limited to recurring activities which resonate closely with the Syrian context. In other words, the selected examples demonstrate potential forms of property violations, describe some of their common patterns in times of peace in general, elaborate on the divergent legal characters they take in the particular cases of international and non-international armed conflicts, and highlight the legal framework applied in cases of foreign occupation, as is the current situation in some Syrian territories.

Building from these ideas, the guide lists recommendations and measures that individuals, concerned organizations, and local initiatives can follow to protect and preserve property rights.

Additionally, the guide redefines some of the common property rights-related terms and concepts, and explains their exact legal implications to put the recommendations and measures in perspective for the victims, spare them misinterpretation of terminology, help them better document the violations, and guide them towards proper legal measures to protect or recover their rights in the future.