Amnesty: Syria Must Prioritize Truth, Justice and Reparations for Disappeared

Amnesty: Syria Must Prioritize Truth, Justice and Reparations for Disappeared
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Amnesty International has urged Syria’s new government to take urgent action to address the fate of tens of thousands of forcibly disappeared persons, following the fall of Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, the organization’s website reported. Between 2011 and 2024, over 100,000 people were disappeared, mostly by the former regime, with some abducted by armed opposition groups. Families have faced years of uncertainty, trauma, and lack of accountability.

In May 2025, Syria established the National Commission for the Missing (NCM) and the National Commission for Transitional Justice (NCTJ) to document cases, collect DNA, investigate violations, provide reparations, and promote non-repetition. Amnesty emphasizes that these bodies must operate independently, be adequately resourced, and pursue accountability for crimes committed by all warring parties. Families demand truth about the missing, justice for perpetrators, reparations, and guarantees that disappearances will not recur.

Amnesty warns that without effective investigations and reparations, Syria’s population cannot heal, and the rule of law will remain fragile amid ongoing economic and security challenges.