Civil Rights Defender of the Year Award 2025 – Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression
This year’s Civil Rights Defender of the Year Award goes to the Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression (SCM). Through their innovative and tireless work, SCM has become a leading force in the global fight for accountability and justice for victims of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Syria. SCM is a defender of freedom of expression and a beacon of hope for all those seeking justice, redress, and democratic freedoms in what has been known as one of the world’s most repressive regimes.
“In a country where speaking the truth can cost you your freedom – or even your life – the Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression has never stayed silent. For over twenty years, they have been relentless advocates against oppression, exposing war crimes and holding perpetrators accountable, even from exile. For their exceptional resilience and courage in pursuit of a world based on justice, freedom, equality, human rights, and dignity, the Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression is awarded the Civil Rights Defender of the Year Award 2025,” says the Board of Civil Rights Defenders in their motivation.
Fighting for freedom of expression
In one of the world’s most repressive regimes, at a time when freedom of expression was virtually non-existent in Syria, SCM was founded in 2004 by renowned Syrian lawyer and human rights defender Mazen Darwish.
From its inception, SCM reported on the grim realities faced by journalists in Syria – arbitrary detentions, torture, and even murder. As one of the few independent voices documenting these abuses, the organisation quickly became a critical source of information for the international community.
“In Syria, no journalist writes freely. When you’ve lived your whole life under a dictatorship, you overthink every word. Then there’s the lack of access to information. We used to joke that the news lied about everything, even the weather. It could be raining, and they’d still say it was sunny,” says Yara Bader, prominent Syrian journalist and human rights defender, and Programmes Manager at SCM and part of its direction.
Uprising and war
In 2011, peaceful protests against Syria’s authoritarian regime were met with brutal government crackdowns, sparking a nationwide uprising. This quickly escalated into a full-blown civil war, fragmenting the country and displacing millions of Syrians.
“We realised that our small documentation unit couldn’t keep up with the scale of the mass crimes and violence across Syria. We decided to create the Violations Documentation Center (VDC). We believe this is why we were arrested,” says Mazen Darwish, founder and General Director of SCM.
That courage and determination came at a high cost. In 2012, Mazen Darwish, Yara Bader, and 12 other colleagues were arrested, and SCM’s office in Damascus was raided and shuttered.
“We have a long history of our offices being raided—first in 2006, then in 2009, and the last time in 2012. That time, they didn’t just take the office or the equipment—they took us too. Some of my friends and colleagues were held for three or four months. I was the last to be released—after three years and eight months,” says Mazen Darwish.
During Mazen’s time in prison, he was like many other Syrian human rights defenders, subjected to inhumane treatment and torture. He says:
“Before, torture was a tool to extract information. Once they believed they had all information, they ended the torture. After 2012, that changed. Torture became a tool of revenge—a way to destroy people.”
Yara continues, “We used to prepare to be arrested. I went to bed in respectable pyjamas with socks on — just in case. And when we were arrested, I remember I refused to take off my jacket or my boots, I felt like ‘I’m not going to settle here’. You are not defeated as long as you are resilient”, says Yara.
Focus on collecting legal evidence
Despite being raided and imprisoned, SCM continued their work. Re-established in exile in 2016, SCM now operates from its head office in Paris, with staff dispersed across the globe, including inside Syria. SCM steered their focus from general documentation to strategic litigation and collecting legal evidence that could stand in court. This marked a major evolution, leading to landmark cases across Europe.
At the heart of SCM’s work is still the Violations Documentation Center (VDC), which meticulously collects and preserves evidence of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Syria. This documentation fuels their Strategic Litigation Department, which partners with international and local organisations to pursue justice across borders. Leveraging the principle of universal jurisdiction, SCM has filed criminal complaints in Germany, Austria, France, and Sweden – paving the way for international arrest warrants against high-ranking Syrian officials, including a historic warrant issued in France against then-President Bashar al-Assad.
“The Civil Rights Defender of the Year Award arrived at a pivotal moment – just as the regime fell after 14 years of sacrifice. We were exhausted by the normalisation of relations with the former regime and the long road ahead toward a country governed by law and justice. Though we know the path to full accountability remains long, the award has restored our hope that we are on the right path, that our efforts can be seen and that we are beginning to reap the fruits of our labour. This honour not only acknowledges the dedication of the team at the Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression, but also underscores our responsibility to uphold trust, professionalism, and the fight against impunity to secure freedoms for all Syrians,” says Mazen and Yara.
Justice in the face of tragedy
SCM’s staff has borne witness to unimaginable horrors, from chemical attacks using sarin gas to the disappearance of colleagues and friends. Yet in the face of tragedy, they remain steadfast, driven by a profound sense of duty to those who can no longer speak for themselves.
In 2023, a French court issued an arrest warrant for Bashar al-Assad, accusing him of crimes against humanity and war crimes. It marks the first time a sitting president has faced such charges in another country under the principle of universal jurisdiction. A historic step – challenging the long-standing immunity of sitting heads of state. Mazen continues:
“We keep fighting because it’s important for victims everywhere, not just Syrians. I hope we’ll see a positive outcome, because this will be the first time victims are able to stand up and say: this is not acceptable. No immunity for war crimes, no immunity for using chemical weapons against civilians.”
Today, SCM is not only a cornerstone of Syrian civil society in exile, but also a vital partner to international legal bodies and human rights organisations around the world. Their work has redefined what civil society can achieve in the realm of international justice, and their commitment continues to inspire.
“I don’t think Syrians are asking for much. Freedom to read a book without asking is this book allowed?”
“And I hope Syria can reach a place where people can live with dignity, respecting their freedoms, have medical insurance, and aren’t afraid to send their kids to school, says Yara.
When asked about the future for Syria, Mazen Darwich says:
“Justice in Syria is not a luxury. It’s not only about identifying crimes and prosecuting suspects—it’s about peacebuilding, creating a sustainable peace for the future. If we succeed in implementing a serious and respectful transitional justice process, then there’s hope for the future.”
About the Civil Rights Defender of the Year Award
SCM, represented by Mazen Darwich and Yara Bader, will receive the award in Stockholm on 13 May.
The Civil Rights Defender of the Year Award is an award for outstanding work in the defence of civil and political rights. Since 2013, the Civil Rights Defender of the Year Award has been awarded annually by Civil Rights Defenders to human rights defenders or an organisation who, despite the risk to their own safety, continue to fight for human rights to be recognised and respected. The award highlights the situation of human rights defenders at risk.
For more information, read our FAQ here.
Contact
If you would like to know more or book an interview with Mazen Darwich and Yara Bader at the Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression, please contact us at press@crd.org or call +46 (0)76 576 27 62.
