More than a decade of conflict in Syria have left deep scars on children, with most of them having grown up knowing only war, and the years leading to the change of regime have been no exception, a new report of the Secretary-General on Children and Armed Conflict in the Syrian Arab Republic shows.

The report shows that during the period from 1 October 2022 to 31 December 2024, the United Nations verified 3,343 grave violations against 3,209 children, who were mostly affected by recruitment and use and killing and maiming, the two most prevalent violations. While violations were attributed to at least 32 parties to conflict, the main perpetrators1 were the then-Syrian government forces, and pro-government forces, and militia, followed by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the opposition Syrian National Army (SNA) and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

“While the crisis in Syria remains volatile and the situation of children still severe, there has been credible progress for children since December 2024,” said the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, Vanessa Frazier. “The positive engagement with the current authorities gives a much-needed sense of hope for the children of Syria, and I want to ensure them of my and the United Nations’ support in taking all necessary measures to protect children and end and prevent grave violations against children by all parties,” she added.

The Special Representative further welcomes the recommitment of the interim authorities to Syria’s international obligations for the protection of children, including by acknowledging the definition of a child as anyone under the age of 18, its responsibilities under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and its optional protocol on the involvement of Children and Armed Conflict. She calls on the authorities to ensure their full implementation.

She remains alarmed by the high number of children deprived of liberty for their actual or alleged association with parties to conflict, including Da’esh, and that approximately 25,500 children with suspected family ties to Da’esh are held in Hawl and Rawj camps. She reminds that children should be considered primarily as victims and treated in line with international juvenile justice standards. She further echoes the call of the Secretary-General and call on all concerned countries of origin to facilitate the safe and voluntary repatriation of these children in line with international law and in respect for the principles of non-refoulement, family unity and the best interests of the child.

“Children of Syria have suffered tremendously in the past decade. During this transition period, I call on all parties to release children from their ranks so they can be reintegrated into civilian life and benefit from age and gender-sensitive reintegration programmes. I count on the international community to support politically and financially such reintegration efforts, in coordination with the United Nations and through our partners,” she said.

The Special Representative commends the SDF and the opposition SNA for the efforts and progress in the implementation of their respective action plans, and calls upon all parties who have not yet done so to engage with the United Nations to adopt an action plan to end and prevent grave violations against children. “The rights and well-being of children must be respected, in times of peace and in times of war,” she concluded.

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Background

Overview of grave violations 

Recruitment and use: 1,981 children recruited or used

Killing and maiming: 1,223 children killed or maimed

Abduction: 18 children abducted

Rape and other forms of sexual violence: 4 girls

Attacks on schools and hospitals: 97 incidents

Denial of humanitarian access: 20 incidents (not a listable violation

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For more information:

Ariane Lignier, Communications Officer, Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict (ariane.lignier@un.org)

Fabienne Vinet, Political Affairs Officer, Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict (vinet@un.org)