Public statement on the compliance dialogue on Syria-related humanitarian payments: A year-long dedicated dialogue, which builds on earlier studies and consultations, and one that is tasked with facilitating a multi-stakeholder technical compliance dialogue for Syria-related humanitarian payments with the intent to help inform the production of a risk management principles guide. Participants have been drawn together to ensure a balance of representation from the financial sector, NGOs, humanitarian actors, key donor governments and regulatory authorities. Discussions are aimed at identifying mechanisms within the existing legal framework (sanctions regimes, national legislation etc.) in order to promote safe and transparent banking and payment channels in support of permissible international humanitarian activity to, and within, Syria.

The Dialogue is convened by the Graduate Institute, Geneva, and is supported and funded by the Swiss Government, through the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation with additional support from the European Commission, Directorate General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations. Dr Justine Walker acts as the key expert for the project and is tasked with drafting supporting documents, including the risk management principles guide. Global NPO Coalition members are part of this dialogue.