The Independent Institute team during a recent visit to Syria. Syria: UN human rights office warns of new cases of abductions and disappearances Human rights
Eleven months after the fall of the former Syrian regime, alarming reports of kidnappings and forced disappearances continue to emerge from the country. The representative of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), Tamin Al-Khitan, stated this at a briefing in Geneva on Friday.
At the same time, according to the UN, more than 100 thousand people disappeared during Assad’s reign.
“Since the fall of the Assad regime, some families have been reunited with their loved ones, but many still live in uncertainty, not knowing where their relatives are or what happened to them,” the OHCHR representative said. He stressed that the fate of all missing persons – both before and after the fall of the previous government – must be immediately clarified, and expressed support for the work of the Independent Institute for Missing Persons in the Syrian Arab Republic. for the evacuation of people during hostilities in the province of Es-Suwayda. The man’s fate is still unknown.
Ongoing instability
The UN representative recalled that all armed groups – both state and non-state – have an obligation to respect and protect humanitarian workers in accordance with international human rights standards and international humanitarian law.
“Accountability and justice for all human rights violations, past and present, are crucial to building a strong and peaceful future in Syria for all its citizens,” he emphasized.
Answering questions from journalists, Al-Khitan said that after the change of power in the country, the situation remains unstable, and various forces and groups are fighting for influence. He noted that people are afraid to contact the UN because of threats, and therefore the real number of abducted and disappeared is difficult to establish. Since January 2025, the Office has documented 97 cases of abductions, but many cases go unreported for fear of reprisals. Some of those abducted were subsequently released, but no precise information was available.
Efforts of the Independent Institute
He added that work on the creation of the Independent Institute for Missing Persons in Syria began even before the change of power, and after the fall of the regime, the mechanism was quickly put into action. According to Al-Hitan, this is “difficult but vital work” that requires the full support of the international community and cooperation from the Syrian authorities.
According to OHCHR, many incidents of abductions occurred during surges in armed violence, such as in coastal areas and Suwayda governorate, but new incidents continue to be reported.