Published on: 2026-07-24
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
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July 23, 2026 Human Rights
Syria will not stand alone in the face of new and old challenges. This was stated by Carla Quintana, head of the Independent Institute for Missing Persons in Syria, ahead of António Guterres’s first visit to the country as Secretary-General.
Quintana presented an overview of the current work. According to her, the Independent Institute processed more than 75,000 documents, collecting information about opponents of the Assad regime who went missing, migrants, children, and people who disappeared due to the terrorist group ISIS after 2024.
“Syria knows it will not have to deal with all of this alone,” Quintana said, noting that the institution established by the UN General Assembly resolution in 2023 will continue its work in searching for the missing and supporting their families.
Problems persist
The new government has granted the Independent Institute access to archives, but has not yet allowed it to open its office in the country. As Quintana emphasized, access to information, its analysis, and exchange remain key elements in efforts to determine the fate of the missing persons.
She reminded that it was the relatives of the missing who initiated the establishment of the institution. “We work to provide answers to families,” said its head.
A historic opportunity
Syria has a historic opportunity to transform one of the world’s largest crises related to forced displacement into inclusive and sustainable recovery. This was stated by the UN Special Rapporteur on the rights of internally displaced persons after an official visit to the country.
“Internally displaced persons have suffered greatly from what has happened in Syria in the past. But they can make the most significant contribution to shaping its future,” said Paula Gaviria Betancur.
Since 2011, about 14 million Syrians have been forced to leave their homes. Nearly two million internally displaced persons and 1.7 million refugees have returned home, but approximately 5.5 million people remain displaced. Restoring the country requires $216 billion, and 15.6 million people continue to need humanitarian assistance.
“Investment in Peace”
“Supporting the rights and capabilities of [displaced] people is an investment in the social fabric of Syria, its economic recovery, and long-term peace,” Betancourt said. According to her, an important indicator of success will be whether the former forcibly displaced persons can exercise their rights and rebuild their lives in decent and safe conditions.
The Special Rapporteur will present his full report to the Human Rights Council in June 2027.
Special rapporteurs are independent experts appointed by the UN Human Rights Council. They are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. The experts act in a personal capacity and do not represent any government or organization.
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