Latest Update - 10 January 2025
SOS Children’s Villages reaffirms its commitment to supporting children without or at risk of losing parental care during Syria’s current political transition.
We acknowledge concerns about children placed in care organizations, including SOS Children’s Villages Syria, by the former government. During the war, many children were unnecessarily separated from their families and placed in alternative care services by the authorities without proper documentation of their origins.
According to our updated data, 80 children without proper documentation were placed in the short-term alternative care of SOS Children’s Villages Syria between 2014 and 2018. These placements were primarily part of our Humanitarian Response Programme during the war, aimed at protecting unaccompanied and separated children, and some were imposed upon us by the authorities at the time. Of these, SOS Children’s Villages previously reported 40 cases, and a recent review has identified an additional 40 children placed in care under similar circumstances during this period. Many of these placements were very brief, lasting only a few days. While in our care, the children received support consistent with our principles of safety and well-being. All children placed under such circumstances were later taken back by the former government and are no longer under the care of SOS Children’s Villages Syria.
We regret the untenable situation we found ourselves in when receiving the children and unequivocally disapprove of such practices, as children should never be separated from their families unless it is in their best interest. We have been proactively addressing these issues since 2018.
In 2018, we demanded that the previous government stop placing children under our care without proper documentation. Since 2020, SOS Children's Villages Syria has been under the leadership of a new National Director. Since then, significant due diligence has been undertaken by SOS Children’s Villages to uphold transparency and integrity.
We deeply empathize with families searching for missing children and wish to support them however we can. During this political transition period, SOS Children’s Villages Syria has shared details of the abovementioned children with the transitional government in Syria and the International Committee of the Red Cross, to trace their families of origin. On January 6, 2025, a meeting took place with the interim Ministry of Social Affairs and SOS Children’s Villages Syria to establish a cooperative relationship to support family tracing.
We are proactively investigating the circumstances surrounding the placement of children in our care without proper documentation and commissioned a detailed review into past records. We hope it will provide further information to support our efforts to clarify these cases and to assist children and families in being reunited. An external review is forthcoming to ensure transparency and provide a comprehensive understanding of the circumstances surrounding the placement of children in our care during this period.
We have also received allegations that certain children may have been in our care. While our current data does not reflect any records to support these claims, we remain concerned. We will submit an official request to the relevant authorities to initiate formal proceedings to investigate the matter and ensure that all facts are transparently reviewed.
SOS Children’s Villages Syria has operated in the country since 1975, navigating complex challenges during periods of significant political and social upheaval. Our work is guided solely by the best interests of children and young people, irrespective of their backgrounds or circumstances. Our purpose is to protect children, uphold their rights, and ensure that each child grows up with the bonds they need to become their strongest selves. We work in alignment with international child rights law and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.
SOS Children’s Villages International does not align itself with any political entities or regimes. Across the more than 130 countries and territories where we operate, including SOS Children’s Villages in Syria, we remain steadfast in our purpose and adhere to the same principles.
In Syria, we remain committed to working with the transitional government, national and international partners to trace families and support family reunification wherever possible, in line with international best practices. We will continue to do everything we can to maintain our operations in Syria by continuing to prioritize the safety and security of our staff, children, and young people during this challenging time.
About SOS Children’s Villages
SOS Children's Villages, founded in 1949, is the world's largest non-governmental organization focused on supporting children and young people without parental care, or at risk of losing it.
Child neglect, abuse and abandonment is everywhere. Families are at risk of separation. Locally led, we work in more than 130 countries and territories to strengthen families who are under pressure so they can stay together. When this is not in a child or young person's best interests, we provide quality care according to their unique needs.
Together with partners, donors, communities, children, young people, and families, we enable children to grow up with the bonds they need to develop and become their strongest selves. We speak up for each child's rights and advocate for change so all children can grow up in a supportive environment.
For more information, please contact press@sos-kd.org