UN: Syrian Refugees Face Kidnapping, Torture, and Sexual Abuse Upon Return to Their Country

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights states that Syrian refugees fleeing the civil war face widespread human rights violations such as torture and kidnapping upon their return to the country, with women particularly vulnerable to sexual abuse and violence. According to a 35-page report released by the UN Human Rights Office on Tuesday, these human rights violations are perpetrated by entities affiliated with the Syrian government, rebel officials, and armed groups. A spokesperson for this UN body noted that amid the growing trend of expelling Syrian refugees from various countries, this report paints a harrowing picture of their suffering, particularly emphasizing the plight of women returning home. Elizabeth Throssell, in a press conference in Geneva explaining the report, stated, 'There are reasonable grounds to believe that the overall conditions in Syria do not allow for the safe, dignified, and sustainable return of Syrian refugees to their country.' The report indicates that women have had to endure sexual abuse from 'security officials' to obtain identification documents. One woman stated, 'Women are forced to do all sorts of things. Especially if they have no money, they are often subjected to sexual exploitation.' The report discusses the consequences of detention for Syrian refugees returning home, noting that women who have been detained often face stigma and accusations from their communities, assuming they have been raped or sexually abused, even if this was not the case. According to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, in some instances, these women are even divorced by their husbands or rejected by their families. While over five million Syrian refugees have sought refuge in neighboring countries and elsewhere more than twelve years after the onset of the civil war, pressures to return them, sometimes through 'forced expulsions,' have increased.