50 organizations call for independent investigation into disappearances of women in Syria
50 human rights and civil society organizations have expressed grave concern over the continued frequent reports and testimonies of the abduction and disappearance of women and girls in various parts of Syria, amid fears that these cases are linked to arbitrary detention, enforced disappearance, human trafficking, forced marriage, extortion, sexual and gender-based violence.
This came in a statement published by the organizations on Tuesday, July 14, based on information documented by UN bodies and Syrian and international human rights organizations since the beginning of 2025, about the increasing reports and testimonies related to the disappearances of women and girls in various regions of Syria.
The nature and seriousness of these allegations do not allow them to be treated as individual incidents or family disputes before they are subject to independent professional investigations, stressing that the classification of disappearances as voluntary departures, family disputes or false allegations cannot be based on presuppositions or anonymous video recordings, but on an independent and safe interview with the victim and on evidence that can be forensically examined, taking into account the possibility that she may be subjected to coercion, threats or fear of reprisals.
According to the statement, these incidents have had effects beyond direct victims, as they have contributed to spreading fear among women and girls, restricting their movement and access to education, work and public life, and prompting some families to refrain from reporting for fear of stigmatization, reprisals or lack of serious treatment of complaints.
The statement cites the cases of "Batool Alloush" and "Walaa Mahmoud"
The 50 organizations touched on the case of university student Batool Suleiman Alloush, who reported her disappearance to her family in the city of Latakia, before appearing in video recordings in which she denied being kidnapped and reported that she had left voluntarily.
She referred to the video testimony given by Walaa Mahmoud, who hails from the countryside of Jableh, in which she stated that she was abducted on March 25, and then detained, assaulted and threatened.
The list of 50 organizations that signed the statement included Syrian and international human rights bodies and initiatives active in documenting violations of the conflict, including the Syrian Center for Justice and Accountability (SJAC), Syrians for Truth and Justice (STJ), the Ta'afi initiative, which focuses on supporting victims of arbitrary detention and enforced disappearances and helping them integrate and psychosocial recovery, in addition to the Women Now Network for Development and The Syria CampaignDawlaty Foundation, which supports democratic transition and the empowerment of youth and women in decision-making, Badael Foundation, which supports peaceful local initiatives and building the capacities of civil society, and the Adad Center for Studies and Women's and Youth Issues.
Organizations call for immediate independent investigation
The 50 organizations have placed an "independent investigation" at the forefront of their urgent demands to close this file, demanding the opening of an immediate and transparent judicial investigation into the facts contained in the testimony of Walaa Mahmoud, including anyone suspected of participating, issuing orders, facilitating or covering up acts, while taking measures to prevent any possible influence of the suspects on evidence or witnesses, and to ensure the protection of the victim and her family.
The organizations stressed the need to suspend the functional and security powers of every person whose name is seriously mentioned in the investigation until the conclusion of the relevant procedures, without prejudice to the presumption of innocence or the guarantees of a fair trial, as this measure represents an essential step to ensure the independence of the investigations.
The statement called for the identification of the location of Batool Suleiman Alloush and the ability of an independent judicial body to meet with her in private to verify her safety and freedom of will, and to officially inform her family of the results of the verification while respecting her privacy and rights, in addition to investigating all unlicensed bodies and places suspected of being used to house or detain women, and to uncover official and unofficial places of detention and subject them to effective judicial control.
Establishment of a national mechanism to receive reports of abduction of women
The statement called for the establishment of an independent and specialized national mechanism to receive reports of the abduction and disappearance of women and girls, including a hotline that operates around the clock, contact points in the governorates, and investigation units that include trained investigators, experts in sexual violence, and digital evidence, to ensure that these sensitive reports are dealt with professionally.
The organizations stressed the need to ensure the protection of victims, survivors, witnesses, their families and human rights defenders from reprisals, intimidation and defamation, and to provide confidential and free medical, psychological, social and legal support, in addition to publishing periodic and transparent data on recorded reports, actions taken and the results of investigations, and to provide independent monitoring and the involvement of specialized civil society organizations, while fully maintaining the confidentiality of victims' data.
Recognizing the seriousness of the abduction of women and girls and seriously investigating these incidents is a "prerequisite" for protecting society and consolidating the rule of law, the 50 organizations said, adding that dealing with the abducted women's case "constitutes a real test" of the Syrian authorities' ability to ensure equality before the law, hold influential people accountable, prevent impunity and restore Syrians' trust in state institutions.