Sullam: building a stronger movement for change in Syria

Sullam “سُلَّم”, the word means ladder, which carries the connotation of tool and ascent. The word is also written with the same letters as the word peace “سلم”, which is another indication of making peace.

Sullam is a non-violent Syrian group that aims to spread the principles of non-violence and promote a culture of peace and societal justice in Syria. Activists from the different regions and backgrounds of Syria work together to build a strong movement for peace and justice.

Nonviolence is a weapon of the strong

What we do

Nonviolence has a long history in Syria that predates the 2011 uprising. Since 2003 PAX supports young nonviolent activists in Syria with trainings, coaching, scholarships and direct financial support. This resulted in 2024 in the building of a network of young committed activists that includes all regions and backgrounds of Syria. After the fall of Assad in December 2024 activists are taking the unique opportunity to reclaiming their space and expanding the network in order to build a strong movement for justice and peace in Syria.

The dictatorship of Assad ruled by violence, repression and divide – and rule. It succeeded in militarizing the uprising, resulting in more then a decade of war and violence. The regime is gone but the underlying patterns, structures and conflicts still exist. Nonviolent tactics and strategies are the most effective weapons to address these, to unite people to confront violence and authoritarianism; and to build a peaceful and just Syria for all.

About Sullam

Sullam is an extension of Syria’s long-standing tradition of nonviolent activism, which has been upheld by many individuals and civil society groups over the decades. Sullam is part of this broader movement, striving to build connections and collaborate with other initiatives that share the vision and values of nonviolence.

Sullam engages in a variety of initiatives aimed at fostering a culture and movement of nonviolence and peace across Syrian society with workshops and training sessions on nonviolent strategies and tactics, campaigns, dialogue platforms and the development and distribution of educational content. Sullam incorporates lessons from global nonviolent movements by hosting discussions and learning exchanges with experts and activists form various contexts and sharing case studies on successful peaceful struggles worldwide.