The fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime on 8 December 2024 after fourteen years of civil war marks a major turning point for Syria. However, it also highlights the serious violations of children’s rights during the conflict. In the light of this particularly worrying information, based on data from international reports and first-hand accounts, I have submitted a dossier to the United Nations to draw attention to these injustices and make concrete recommendations.
Systemic violations of children’s rights
Since 2011, Syrian children have been exposed to extreme violence. Nearly 6.8 million them were dependent on humanitarian aid in 2023. Some have been recruited by armed groups or exploited in logistical support roles. The data also reveals arbitrary detentions and cases of torture in centres such as Saydnaya prison, where children have been used as tools to put pressure on their families. According to a report by the Association des Détenus et Disparus de Saydnaya (ADMSP, 2022), conditions of detention include deprivation of food, physical and psychological abuse, and degrading treatment.
Civilian infrastructures targeted
Schools and hospitals, which are supposed to offer refuge, have been prime targets in the conflict. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (OSDH) reports that more than 500 schools were attacked between 2011 and 2023, depriving thousands children of their right to education. A survey by the United Nations Commission of Inquiry (2022) indicates that 70% of medical infrastructures in conflict zones were out of order, depriving wounded or sick children of vital access to care.
Precarious living conditions for displaced persons
The massive displacement caused by the war has driven millions of children into overcrowded camps. In Al-Hol camp, children have died for lack of medical care. According to the OSDH, more than 60 child deaths were recorded there in 2022, as a direct result of preventable diseases and limited access to essential resources. These children, who are often marginalised and stigmatised, face persistent psychological distress.
A call for international mobilisation
The dossier submitted to the United Nations calls for greater documentation of violations of children’s rights. Among other things, it stresses the need to lift restrictions humanitarian access in conflict zones, enabling organisations to provide , education and psychosocial support to these children.
At the same time, the report highlights the importance of setting up appropriate rehabilitation programmes. These initiatives must include psychological support, specialised medical care and access to appropriate education to help children overcome the trauma they have suffered. It also calls for the perpetrators of these violations to be brought before competent courts, whether national or international, to ensure justice.
Finally, the report stresses the need for greater support from the international community. This involves not only additional funding but also greater logistical coordination to meet the urgent needs of Syrian children.
A political transition at a crossroads
As Syria embarks on an uncertain political transition, the international community must seize this opportunity to guarantee a future that respects human rights. “This issue is an urgent call to action: Syrian children, the first victims of the conflict, must be at the heart of reconstruction efforts”,
By supporting these initiatives, the United Nations and its partners can turn a period of crisis into an opportunity to build a peaceful and inclusive future for Syria and its future generations.
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First published in this link of The European Times.
