Syrian Obsservatory for Human Rights

The request was partially successful.

Dear Foreign and Commonwealth Office,

Could you answer this under the FOI Acts

Does the FCO pay any money to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, either directly or indirectly?
The FCO uses SOHR as a source for some of its data. How does the FCO check the accuracy of its information?
Does the FCO have any contacts with SOHR and if so please send me the latest email either way.

Yours faithfully,

Michael Price

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

FOI Request Ref: 0075-17

Dear Michael Price

Thank you for your FOI request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. It has been assigned a unique reference number (above) and has been passed to the relevant section within the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to deal with. They will be in touch with you should your request need clarification.

We received your request on 18 January 2017 and will aim to respond within 20 working days, following date of receipt.

Yours sincerely

FOI and DPA Team
Foreign and Commonwealth Office

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Foreign and Commonwealth Office

2 Attachments

Dear Mr Price

 

Please find attached a response to your freedom of information request,
ref FOI 0075-17.

 

Kind Regards

 

Levant Team

 

On behalf of the
Near East Department
Foreign and Commonwealth Office

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Dear Foreign and Commonwealth Office,

Thank you for the information provided. Just on one additional point, what audit process is carried out to make sure that SOHR is using the money for its Human Rights work, and and what was that Human Righs works that the money was given for ?
How is the decision made to award money to this type of cause?

Yours faithfully,

Michael Price

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Dear Mr Price,

Thank you for your further questions. We have treated this as a business-as-usual request. Our Near East Department has provided the following answers:

- what audit process is carried out to make sure that SOHR is using the money for its Human Rights work?

The project was to supply SOHR with satellite communications equipment and cameras to enable them to report and document human rights abuses inside Syria. Independent third party suppliers invoiced for, and supplied the equipment, the money was not given to SOHR to purchase themselves. The equipment was monitored by our suppliers and the satellite phones could be deactivated remotely. The project was subject to regular monitoring and evaluation and additionally scrutinised through quarterly project progress reports.

- what was that Human Rights works that the money was given for ?

Equipment was supplied to help facilitate communication between activists reporting on human rights abuses and violations taking place within Syria. SOHR worked closely with a variety of international organisations including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.

- How is the decision made to award money to this type of cause?

SOHR approached the FCO with a project proposal. The proposal was considered and approved by the Board of the Middle East North Africa (MENA) Conflict Pool.

Yours sincerely,

FOI-DPA Team
Foreign and Commonwealth Office

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Dear Foreign and Commonwealth Office,

Thank you for that, It in fact raises more questions but for now thankyou

Yours faithfully,

Michael Price