Statement of General Principles

The Syrian British Consortium (SBC), guided by its founding vision, mission, and objectives, recognises the responsibility of the Syrian diaspora in the United Kingdom to contribute constructively to the development of a new Syria. It supports all pathways that advance the security and stability of all Syrians, safeguard their rights and responsibilities on the basis of equal citizenship, and uphold human dignity without discrimination.

To this end, and in furtherance of strengthening the role of the Syrian community in the United Kingdom, SBC adopts the following principles as the governing framework for its public engagement and as a foundation for its policy development and internal structures.

1. Upholding Human Dignity and Equal Citizenship

SBC affirms that the protection of human dignity is the bedrock for any just social contract in the new Syria. It is committed to safeguarding the rights and responsibilities of all Syrian men and women without exception, irrespective of political, religious, ethnic, or regional affiliations.

Equal citizenship and respect for human rights constitute the core framework for preventing discrimination and exclusion, and for safeguarding public freedoms and both individual and collective rights. These principles underpin all SBC’s activities and public positions.

2. Unity, Sovereignty and Territorial Integrity of Syria

SBC affirms its commitment to Syria’s unity and territorial integrity. It rejects any form of partition, fragmentation, seizure of land, or the imposition of faits accomplis, and supports the full sovereignty of the Syrian state over its territory and resources.

3. Coexistence, Civil Peace, and Rejection of Hatred

SBC promotes peaceful coexistence among Syrians, both within Syria and across the diaspora. It supports dialogue, mutual understanding, trust-building, and the strengthening of social cohesion, while always prioritising peaceful resolution of disputes.

It unequivocally rejects all forms of violence, hate speech, and incitement, including that based on ethnic, sectarian, religious, or regional grounds. SBC is committed to advancing a culture of mutual respect, pluralism, and inclusion.

4. Accountability and the Rule of Law

SBC supports the transition to an inclusive nation-state grounded in the rule of law and democratic governance. Such a state should protect the interests of all citizens without discrimination and be underpinned by legitimate institutions that are transparent and accountable to the Syrian people.

5. Commitment to Objectivity and Integrity

SBC adopts an objective and impartial approach towards all Syrian political actors and entities, whether governmental or non-governmental. It rejects political alignment that is inconsistent with its principles or that undermines the development of a state based on equal citizenship