Press Release
Syrian Opposition Coalition
Department of Media and Communications
August 30, 2024
On the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances, the Syrian Opposition Coalition (SOC) emphasizes that the Assad regime has used enforced disappearances as a weapon against civilians in its war on the Syrian people who have risen up seeking freedom since 2011. This brutal and criminal strategy, based on killing, terrorism, and disappearance, is an attempt to deter Syrians from their rightful demands.
There is a large number of enforced disappearances carried out by the Assad regime, with the Syrian Network documenting over 112,000 disappeared persons, including more than 3,000 children and 6,000 women. This reflects the extreme brutality of the Assad regime towards Syrians. It also highlights the failure of the international community’s mechanisms in addressing the Syrian issue, as it has not been able to uncover or release a single disappeared person in the custody of the Assad regime. The victims are being subjected to horrific torture and grave violations, as evidenced by hundreds of reports and pieces of evidence.
The SOC stresses the need for effective and serious steps by the international community to achieve justice for the victims and their families through the release of detainees, ensuring accountability, and the implementation of a political solution in Syria according to UN resolutions. These steps are essential for creating a sustainable state of stability that meets the aspirations of the Syrian people, particularly the full and strict implementation of Resolutions 2254 (2015) and 2118 (2013).
