What happened?
During the conflict, many children were unjustly and forcibly separated from their parents by security authorities and placed into care, including at SOS Children’s Villages, often without proper documentation, and allegedly with altered names. The authorities also dictated the duration of care, removal from care, and reunification procedures. These actions reflected the absence of a functioning child protection system grounded in international standards.
We condemn these practices unequivocally. This should never have happened.
We acknowledge that despite our best intentions, not all decisions made during this period met the standards we hold ourselves to. We are learning from these failures and have taken concrete steps to prevent this from happening again.
Our actions
Halting improper placements
In 2018, SOS Children’s Villages took decisive action to stop accepting children into our care without proper documentation. We firmly believe that no child should ever be separated from their family unless it is in their best interests and only through a documented, transparent, and child-centred process.
Family tracing support
In total, 106 of the 140 children who were forcibly separated by the authorities and placed in SOS Children's Villages in Syria during the Assad regime have now been confirmed to be with their families.
A comprehensive review of our records found that between 2013 and 2018, 139 children without proper documentation were placed in the care of SOS Children's Villages.
- During that period, 35 children were reunified with their families. Today, 34 of those children have been confirmed to be with their families.
- The remaining 104 children were transferred to the authorities following official return orders. Of these, 72 children have since been traced and confirmed to be with their families. Efforts to locate the remaining 32 children are ongoing.
- Separate from these cases, one additional child was placed in our care in 2020 following a direct order from the authorities. This case was an exception and its classification had previously been disputed. The child was reunified with their family in 2022, in line with further instructions from the authorities.
We continue to work closely with government institutions, civil society and humanitarian organisations to support ongoing family tracing and reunification efforts. Supporting the safe reunification of children with their families remains our highest priority. Families seeking information are encouraged to contact us through our .
Accountability
Since 2020, under a new national management team, SOS Children's Villages Syria has strengthened operations to align with international safeguarding standards.
In May 2025, Ms. Samar Daboul, President of the Board of SOS Children’s Villages Syria, stepped down to allow ongoing investigations to proceed without any impediment.
In July 2025, the Board of SOS Children’s Villages Syria suspended their National Director, Mr. Samer Khaddam, to ensure an impartial investigation process. An interim National Director has been appointed.
Investigations
SOS Children’s Villages commissioned two independent international investigations to ensure transparency and accountability. The investigation commissioned by SOS Children’s Villages International is now expected to be finalized in January 2026. In parallel, the summary report of the independent investigation commissioned by our German member association, SOS Kinderdörfer Weltweit, is publicly available here.
At the request of SOS Children’s Villages Syria, the Damascus Prosecutor initiated investigations into unresolved cases of missing children. This process is ongoing.
Our commitment
Across the SOS Children’s Villages federation, we are committed to upholding the privacy, dignity, and safety of every child and family affected. All tracing efforts will continue to be carried out with compassion, confidentiality, and respect.
Since 2021, we have been strengthening safeguarding, accountability, and transparency across all member associations worldwide, and we remain dedicated to upholding the highest standards of protection for those in our care.
Children's dignity, safety, and right to family will always remain our highest priority. As the world's largest organization supporting children without parental care or at risk of losing it, our mission is grounded in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the UN Guidelines for the Alternative Care of Children. We will continue standing with children and youth for as long as we are needed - protecting them and helping them grow with the bonds of love and belonging they deserve.
Read the statement by Mimmo Parisi, Chair of the Board of SOS Children’s Villages International.