Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
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December 5, 2025 Human rights
In a few days, Syria will mark one year since the fall of the Assad regime. The interim authorities have taken encouraging steps to investigate past crimes, but these actions are only a small part of what needs to be done, human rights activists believe.
In a statement released Friday, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) said Syria's transitional government has established commissions to address justice issues and clarify the fate of missing persons. However, alarming reports of extrajudicial executions, killings, and abductions continue, primarily targeting members of certain communities and individuals accused of ties to the former government.
Hundreds of people have been killed since the fall of the Assad regime. These killings were carried out by security forces of the interim authorities, groups affiliated with them, and unidentified armed individuals. People also die from landmines and other munitions.
Reports of violations and abuses include evidence of sexual violence, arbitrary detention, looting, home destruction, forced evictions and home confiscations, as well as restrictions on freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.
The violence primarily affected ethnic and religious communities, including Alawites, Druze, Christians, and Bedouins. It was fueled by hate speech, both online and on the streets of Syrian cities, according to the OHCHR statement.
Last year was also marked by Israeli military operations in Syria, including shelling, ground incursions, and the occupation of territory. There were reports of civilian casualties, kidnappings, and house searches.
The integration of armed groups into the new Syrian government's security forces was hasty and lacked proper human rights vetting, according to a statement from the OHCHR. The UN human rights agency believes that such vetting, and reform of the security sector as a whole, is crucial to prevent further violations and ensure that those responsible for serious violations of international law are not integrated into the newly formed security forces.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk called on the Syrian transitional authorities to take steps to address the root causes of abuses. "Accountability, justice, peace, and security for all Syrians are fundamental prerequisites for a successful political transition," the statement read. "The right of victims to effective remedies and reparations must be fully ensured."
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