Action Group | Syria
On the International Day for the Right to know the Truth, demands are mounting for justice and support for the families of the missing in Syria. The fate of thousands of detainees remains unknown, years after the Syrian revolution, during which the former regime detained thousands of Palestinian refugees, including women, children, and entire families.
Human rights organizations and the international community are calling for the fate of the missing to be revealed and for the necessary support to be provided to their families. They emphasize the importance of achieving justice and holding accountable those responsible for gross human rights violations.
The families of the missing face endless suffering, having spent years in constant anxiety and fear for the fate of their loved ones who disappeared behind bars without any information about their status or whereabouts. With the fall of the Syrian regime and the opening of some prisons, only a few hundred have been released, while thousands remain missing and forcibly disappeared, compounding the suffering of their families.
The suffering manifests itself in multiple aspects. The absence of a breadwinner has led to the disintegration and fragmentation of families. The arrest of the head of the household or the person responsible for providing for them has plunged many families into extremely difficult economic conditions, forcing them to live in extreme deprivation and poverty.
Some families have also been subjected to exploitation and extortion by close associates or former regime officials.
Under the weight of this harsh reality, the families of detainees face grave daily challenges that require significant support to overcome, alleviate their suffering, and rebuild their lives with dignity.
United Nations reports indicate that the majority of detainees are men, leaving behind women and families suffering from harsh and complex circumstances. These women bear the burdens of life alone, tirelessly searching for their sons, husbands, brothers, or fathers, making arduous and dangerous journeys.
For their part, the United Nations and international organizations continue their efforts to uncover the fate of missing persons. An independent UN body has been established to investigate the fate of missing persons in Syria. A commitment has been made to ensuring the preservation of material evidence of violations and international crimes in order to protect individuals’ right to know the truth.
Families of missing persons are calling on the international community to intensify its efforts to ensure accountability for those responsible for violations in Syria and to support the efforts of human rights organizations and civil society in Syria.
On June 29, 2023, the UN General Assembly issued a resolution establishing an independent UN body to investigate the fate of missing persons in Syria. Several human rights organizations, such as Amnesty International, are working to support the families of missing persons in Syria.
Reports issued by international and local human rights organizations indicate that the number of missing persons in Syria exceeds 100,000. As for the missing Palestinians in Syrian prisons, their number is estimated at more than 3,000 detainees, according to statistics from the Action Group for Palestinians of Syria. Among these detainees are women, the elderly, and more than 50 Palestinian children, which further complicates this humanitarian tragedy.