Damascus, April 10 (SANA) Syria’s Minister of Social Affairs and Labor, Hind Kabawat, said that a government committee investigating the fate of children of detainees and those forcibly disappeared by the ousted regime has so far documented 314 cases of children placed in state-run care homes.
She added that 194 children have been returned to their families, while a significant number of cases remain under review.
In a statement published on the ministry’s Telegram channel on Friday, Kabawat said the committee is currently following up on 612 cases of children placed with other families in accordance with Syrian law, noting that efforts are underway to verify that none of these children were previously detained.
She said investigations into cases from 2011 to 2015 have been completed, with work continuing to cover subsequent years.
Kabawat stressed that the ministry places a high priority on transparency, respect for the suffering of families, and their right to know the fate of their children. She noted that updates on the committee’s work are regularly shared with the public, adding that its mandate is limited to children placed in care homes and does not extend to criminal investigations.
She also said that addressing these cases requires close coordination with the Ministries of Justice and Interior, as well as cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates in cases with international dimensions, alongside the involvement of international experts in archiving and verification.
Kabawat added that the ministry has introduced major changes to the management of care homes to ensure qualified and trusted staff, emphasizing that families play a central role in the committee’s work through direct representation and support for volunteer teams.
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