Syria’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ibrahim Olabi, told the UN Security Council childhood in Syria was “the first victim of the (Assad) regime” while outlining efforts by the country’s new government to strengthen protections for children affected by conflict.
Speaking during the Security Council’s open debate on children and armed conflict in New York, Olabi thanked Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict Virginia Gamba for her briefing and for her office’s ongoing engagement with Syrian authorities on the issue.
Reflecting on the beginning of the Syrian uprising 14 years ago, Olabi recalled how a group of schoolchildren wrote anti-government slogans on a school wall, leading to their arrest, torture and enforced disappearance by security services.
Those children, he said, became a symbol of the revolution and remain an enduring part of Syria’s modern history. According to Olabi, their actions and the response they provoked marked a pivotal moment in the country’s trajectory.
Constitutional Commitments to Children’s Rights
Olabi said since the liberation of Syria, the government has sought to reinforce protections for children through legal and constitutional measures. He pointed to the Constitutional Declaration issued in March 2025, which affirmed that rights contained in international human rights treaties ratified by Syria form an integral part of the country’s constitutional framework.
These commitments include the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which Syria ratified in 1993. He also highlighted Gamba’s visit to Syria in February, describing it as productive. During the visit, she met with senior officials from several ministries, including Justice, Emergencies and Disasters, Defense, Interior, and Social Affairs and Labor.
Developing a National Action Plan
According to Olabi, Syrian officials briefed the UN delegation on measures aimed at preventing violations against children and improving their protection. He confirmed that Damascus is working with the Office of the Special Representative to develop a comprehensive national action plan focused on preventing abuses against children during and after conflict.
He added Syria has decided to join the Special Representative’s “Act to Protect” initiative, a move he said demonstrates the government’s willingness to cooperate in implementing the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Ongoing Risks Facing Syrian Children
Despite these efforts, Olabi noted significant challenges remain. He warned that unexploded ordnance and landmines continue to threaten children and civilians across Syria and welcomed international assistance to help clear contaminated areas.
He also addressed conditions in the Hawl and Roj camps, describing them as severe and calling for greater international cooperation. Thousands of children and women from multiple countries have lived in the camps for years with limited access to healthcare and education, he said. Olabi urged governments to take responsibility for their nationals and accelerate efforts toward long-term solutions, including repatriation where possible.
Concluding his remarks, Olabi said an entire generation of Syrians has grown up amid conflict, instability and destruction. At the same time, he expressed hope that this generation will play a central role in rebuilding Syria in the years ahead.
