The Action Group | Geneva
Today, the Action Group for Palestinians of Syria delivered an oral statement during the 58th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, under agenda item 4, highlighting the suffering of thousands of missing persons in Syrian prisons, including Palestinian refugees.
Addressing the Council, Dr. Tariq Hamoud, Director of the Palestinian Return Centre, emphasized that the issue of the forcibly disappeared in Syria is not just a matter of numbers, but a deep wound in the human conscience. He pointed out that more than 100,000 people remain missing, including over 6,000 Palestinian refugees, among them 49 children, according to the group’s documentation.
Hamoud explained that these Palestinians were subjected to enforced disappearance during the former regime, and despite the political transformations witnessed in the country, their fate remains unknown, reflecting the persistence of impunity. He also stressed that detainees were subjected to systematic torture and gross human rights violations, which have been documented through reliable testimonies.
Hamoud called on the Human Rights Council to take decisive action, including:
– Internationalizing the issue
– Holding those responsible for enforced disappearances accountable
– Supporting the families of the victims
He emphasized that this issue transcends borders and affiliations and represents a battle for justice and human dignity.
The Action Group for Palestinians of Syria reiterates its commitment to defending the rights of Palestinian refugees, calling on the international community to intensify efforts to uncover the fate of the forcibly disappeared and to achieve justice for them and their families.