-
Amnesty International Calls for Urgent and Transparent Investigation into Abductions of Women in Syria’s Coastal Region
Amnesty International has called on Syrian authorities to immediately launch a thorough, impartial, and transparent investigation into a series of abductions targeting women and girls from the Alawite community in Syria’s coastal governorates, stressing the need to hold perpetrators accountable and to provide urgent support to the victims' families.
In a report released Monday, the organization confirmed that it had received credible reports since February indicating the abduction of at least 36 women and girls, aged between 13 and 33, in the governorates of Latakia, Tartous, Homs, and Hama, at the hands of unidentified individuals.
Amnesty also documented incidents in which five women and three girls under the age of 18 were abducted in broad daylight, raising serious concerns about escalating insecurity and the lack of accountability in these areas.
Agnes Callamard, Secretary General of Amnesty International, expressed deep concern, stating:
“We urge the Syrian authorities to act swiftly and transparently to determine the whereabouts of the missing women and girls, bring those responsible to justice, and provide timely support to affected families in a manner that respects gender sensitivity and human dignity.”
Callamard emphasized that the Syrian government holds both legal and moral responsibility to prevent gender-based violence and to prosecute its perpetrators, stressing that failure to do so constitutes a grave violation of human rights.
She added that all women in Syria “deserve to live freely and safely, without fear of abuse, discrimination, or persecution,” and called for independent investigations led by impartial investigators with full access to necessary resources and information to ensure justice and reparations.
This report was released just one day after the National Committee for Investigation and Fact-Finding published its final findings on the events in Syria’s coastal region, amid growing local and international demands to uncover the fate of the abducted women and to prosecute those responsible for these violations.
