We, the families of the disappeared, along with the associations of victims of arbitrary detention and enforced disappearance under the Truth and Justice Charter, and the partner human rights organizations, submit this statement to express our unequivocal rejection of the approach taken toward addressing the issue of missing persons, forcibly disappeared individuals, and detainees in Syria. We hold the current authorities responsible for prioritizing this matter, as it represents not only a profound humanitarian issue and a painful chapter in Syria’s history but also a fundamental pillar for achieving justice, fairness, and civil peace in the new Syria.
For years, we have fought tirelessly, using every means at our disposal and from all corners of the world, to demand freedom, justice, and fairness for every detainee we hold dear in Syria. We have resisted global indifference toward those silenced by enforced disappearance and systematic torture, as well as toward those who sacrificed their lives and freedom in the struggle against tyranny.
Our ongoing tragedy, which we had hoped would end with the opening of prisons and detention centers, has only deepened. Not only did we fail to see the faces of our loved ones among those released, but we also witnessed the neglect and disorder that followed the fall of the tyrannical regime. Scenes of crimes—prisons, security branches, military hospitals, and other facilities containing documents and evidence regarding the fates of our loved ones—remain vulnerable to tampering, theft, and destruction. This includes actions by parents desperately searching for information about their children, media figures, curious onlookers unaware of the gravity of their actions, or even deliberate efforts by saboteurs seeking to obscure the truth and erase evidence.
The disregard for the sanctity of these sites and the experiences of those who endured them is deeply shameful. The ongoing neglect and lack of protection have now escalated to the point where some have painted over the cells and erased their defining features—a flagrant and offensive violation of the memory of our missing loved ones.
Until the time of writing this statement, the new administration has failed to fulfill its duty of engaging with us, the families of detainees and the disappeared. It has neither provided information nor issued any direct message addressing our plight. Instead, we have been left to search for traces of our loved ones on our own—sifting through scattered documents abandoned on prison floors or outside security branches in Damascus and elsewhere. This has exposed many of us to immense suffering, exploitation, and the spread of rumors and misleading information on social media, compounding our loss and pain, which has already spanned many years.
We recognize that addressing the issue of the forcibly disappeared in Syria, given its immense scale, demands coordinated national and international efforts to develop a clear and unified vision for uncovering the fate of our loved ones, delivering justice for the victims, and holding perpetrators accountable. However, urgent steps must be taken immediately—steps that can set us on the path toward achieving comprehensive truth and justice before it is too late.
We therefore demand the following:
We affirm that the crime of enforced disappearance is a crime against humanity, systematically used by the previous regime as a tool of repression against dissent. Through this statement, we, the families, aim to mobilize and unify all efforts to preserve evidence and related materials, ensuring that the perpetrators are held accountable and that such crimes are never repeated.
The fall of the tyrannical regime marked the beginning of the collective dream of a Syria founded on freedom, justice, and peace. However, rebuilding Syria is impossible without uncovering the fate of tens of thousands, achieving justice for them and their families, and committing to preventing the recurrence of atrocities against the Syrian people. We stand fully prepared to dedicate all our efforts and resources and to collaborate with all relevant parties to advance the pursuit of truth and justice in Syria.
Issued by organizations and associations of the Truth and Justice Charter
The Truth and Justice Charter is a joint Syrian initiative launched by organizations and groups representing the families of victims of enforced disappearance and arbitrary detention, as well as male and female survivors of detention. Its aim is to place the issue of detainees and missing persons at the forefront of efforts to achieve justice in Syria. The Charter embodies a unified vision for addressing these systematic violations by documenting crimes, ensuring families’ right to know the fate of their loved ones, and working to uncover the truth and hold perpetrators accountable. It emphasizes the principles of transitional justice and the protection of victims’ rights, asserting that sustainable justice is essential for achieving lasting peace in Syria’s future.
1. Caesar Families Association
2. Ta’afi Initiative
3. Families for Freedom
4. Harrirni (Release Me) Organization
5. Association of Detainees and the Missing in Sednaya Prison (ADMSP)
6. Coalition of Families of Persons Kidnapped by ISIS (Massar)
7. Hevdesti-Synergy Association for Victims
8. Families of Truth and Justice
9. The General Union of Internees and Detainees
10. Adra Detainees Association
Signatories from organizations: