Attachments
PURPOSE AND SCOPE
The humanitarian actors1 operating in Syria recognize the necessity of applying the Joint Operating Principles (JOPs) and recommended actions for the collective benefit of effective humanitarian action that serves the most vulnerable people. Adherence to these principles, along with applicable international laws, is crucial for ensuring humanitarian access to all affected populations, the effective and efficient delivery of humanitarian assistance, and the safety of humanitarian staff. As such, the humanitarian community agrees that the principles outlined in this document reflect well-established international practices and form the foundation of interactions between humanitarian organizations, authorities2, and relevant stakeholders3 in their areas of operation. Furthermore, the JOPs serve as guidance towards a common internal code of conduct, negotiation tool, advocacy reference, and onboarding guide, designed to support principled, consistent, and contextsensitive humanitarian action across Syria.
The Syria JOPs are formulated in collaboration with humanitarian actors operating in all governorates of Syria, establishing joint thresholds or 'ground rules' for the humanitarian community's operations and are applicable to all humanitarian actions4.
Humanitarian actors commit to a general spirit of accountability and when possible, to hold each other, as well as their subcontractors, suppliers, and those they engage for humanitarian-related services, accountable to these joint operating principles. Organisations may opt to discontinuing all or part of humanitarian assistance to vulnerable populations in any given area, if the principles stated below are not or cannot be adhered to.