Syria’s Minister of Social Affairs and Labor, Hind Qabwat, met with a United Nations delegation from the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Syria at the ministry’s headquarters in Damascus.
The delegation was headed by commissioners Hida Monya Amar and Fiona O’Neill. The meeting focused on strengthening cooperation to support the work of the committee investigating the fate of children of detainees and the forcibly disappeared during the rule of the Assad regime.
Discussions centered on improving coordination and intensifying efforts to determine the fate of missing persons and children whose parents were detained or disappeared. Participants reviewed mechanisms for expanding information-sharing between the UN commission and relevant Syrian authorities.
The Syrian side also briefed the delegation on progress made so far, results achieved and challenges facing the investigative process. The talks also addressed the situation of Syrian children currently living in camps and the complexities surrounding their protection and reintegration.
160 Children Reunited With Families
Qabwat outlined the procedures being used to address cases involving children whose parents were detained or forcibly disappeared. She said the process includes gathering documents and information, conducting field visits and carrying out on-site fact-finding missions.
The minister reported that 160 children have so far been successfully reunited with their families. “We are keen to follow up on this issue with the utmost diligence to reach all children, driven by our humanitarian and professional responsibility,” Qabwat said. She added that the effort is being carried out in coordination with the Ministries of Justice, Interior and Endowments, as well as representatives of victims of enforced disappearance and civil society organizations.
UN Commissioners Pledge Support
Amar acknowledged the “enormous challenges” facing Syria in addressing these cases. “We are trying to identify the most important efforts made by the Ministry of Social Affairs for the benefit of children and their families,” she said. “It is very important that we communicate with all parties on this matter.”
She added that the commission is committed to supporting efforts aimed at strengthening stability and building trust among Syrians while promoting respect for human rights. The committee investigating the fate of these children announced on Feb. 8 that it had documented 314 children of detained or disappeared parents who had been placed in care homes under ministry supervision by security branches during the era of the ousted regime.
Of those, 140 children were placed in facilities run by SOS Children’s Villages International. Authorities have confirmed that 160 children have since been reunited with their families, while work continues to verify the status of the remaining cases.
