UNHRC62 Oral Statement on the Reported Disappearance of Alawite Women and Girls in Syria

Intervention to the Interactive Dialogue with the Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic. Transcript:

The Next Century Foundation continues to be deeply concerned by the reported disappearance and abduction of Alawite women and girls in Syria, and the implications these cases hold for the protection of women and minority communities during the country’s political transition. While the transitional government has pledged to build an inclusive Syria, reports continue to raise concerns regarding the protection of minority communities and the persistence of sectarian and gender-based violence.

At least 36 Alawite women and girls between the ages of three and forty were reported abducted between February and July 2025 across Latakia, Tartous, Homs, and Hama. The Syrian Feminist Lobby has recorded reports of at least 80 Alawite women and girls who have disappeared since early 2025. Taken together, these reports suggest that Alawite women and girls face a particular vulnerability at the intersection of gender and sectarian identity.

These incidents raise urgent concerns regarding gender-based violence, including allegations of abduction, forced marriage, sexual violence, and coercive religious conversion. Cases such as Batoul Alloush’s disappearance in April 2026 have come to symbolise the insecurity and uncertainty facing minority women in Syria today.

The continued emergence of these reports raises serious questions regarding accountability, safeguarding mechanisms, and the effectiveness of state responses. Failure to adequately investigate allegations, protect vulnerable communities, and ensure access to justice risks fostering a climate of impunity.

A stable and inclusive Syria requires not only political reconstruction, but also meaningful protection for women and minorities, credible investigations into all reported disappearances, and accountability for those responsible for acts of violence and intimidation. We call on the Syrian government to conduct transparent investigations, strengthen protection for vulnerable communities, and uphold the rights of all Syrian citizens regardless of gender, ethnicity, or sectarian affiliation.

Thank you.