This position paper discusses Canada's stance regarding the Syrian civil war: military engagement, assistance, and aid commitments. 

CJPME Political Blog, Oct.21, 2016

My organization has joined in the sponsorship of 9 different Syrian refugee families.  Some of the files were submitted as early as 2015; all have been approved; yet not a single refugee has arrived.  There are thousands of sponsoring groups in Canada in a position identical to ours. 

Montreal, April 13, 2015  — Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) calls on the Canadian government to make an emergency intervention to help the Palestinian refugees caught between warring factions at the Yarmouk camp.  UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon condemned the situation in Syria’s Yarmouk refugee camp this week, calling it Syria’s “deepest circle of hell.” Yarmouk Camp, located just seven kilometers from central Damascus, is currently home to approximately 18,000 Palestinian refugees and has been threatened by Assad government forces, Syrian rebel groups and, most recently, Islamic State (ISIS) fighters. The situation in Yarmouk has deteriorated in past weeks with aid agencies unable to reach people in need and ISIS militants engaging in violent acts against civilians. Secretary Ban Ki-Moon further described Yarmouk by saying, “a refugee camp is beginning to resemble a death camp.”

Montreal, January 23, 2014  — Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) implores the Canadian government to address the Syrian civil war with urgency and greater substance.  Earlier this week, a report by renowned international war crimes judges, with the aid of forensic scientists, confirmed evidence of massive torture of prisoners committed by the Assad regime.  The thousands of photos document severe beatings, starvation and strangulation. This report makes meaningful involvement by Canada even more urgent.  Canada must press both sides of the Syrian conflict to respect human rights and international humanitarian law.

CJPME Factsheet 166, published March, 2013: After two years of civil war, the Syria refugee problem has become huge.  This factsheet provides the background context to the crisis, describes the overall numbers after two years, and identifies countries hosting the greatest numbers of refugees.  Finally, Canada’s parsimonious aid thus far is examined.

This paper contains recommendations for the Canadian government regarding the Syrian civil war.

CJPME Factsheet 160, published January, 2013: This factsheets reviews Robert Fisk’s impressive credentials as an author and journalist on the Middle East.  The factsheet also discusses the accusations against Fisk for being “pro-Assad” in that country’s expanding civil war.

This position paper displays a list of Policy recommendations for Canada regarding the conflict in Syria. The list includes providing humanitarian aid, helping to negotiate a ceasefire in Syria and help the country transition to a more representative government. 

CJPME Factsheet 150, published April, 2012: This document provides a timeline of events, from February 2011, until April 2012, showing the gradual unravelling of civil stability in Syria, and the onset of civil war.  

CJPME Factsheet 151, published April, 2012: This factsheet talks about the many political and commercial interests that play out in Syria: those in Canada and other Western countries included.  It also talks about the domestic interests and sectarian groups that have a stake in maintaining, or challenging, the status quo.