On the 14th Anniversary of the Start of the Syrian Uprising in March 2011, the Syrian People’s Struggle to Achieve Their Aspirations Marches on

At Least 234,145 Civilians Killed, 177,021 Still Forcibly Disappeared Since March 2011, With Massive Destruction of Infrastructure 

The Hague – The Syrian Network for Human Rights

The Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR) today released a statement on the 14^th anniversary of the start of the Syrian uprising in March 2011, entitled, ‘The Syrian People’s Struggle to Achieve Their Aspirations Marches on.’ The statement highlights that at least 234,145 civilians have been killed and 177,021 people are still officially classified as forcibly disappeared, while the country’s infrastructure has suffered massive destruction since March 2011. It also emphasizes that this anniversary comes in the wake of a historic turning point—the fall of Bashar Assad’s regime on December 8, 2024, marking the beginning of a long-awaited transitional phase for Syria.

The statement notes that this transformation is the culmination of a long and arduous struggle waged by Syrians for more than a decade, during which they endured enormous human and economic losses and made great sacrifices for freedom, dignity, and justice. These sacrifices are reflected in the hundreds of thousands of martyrs, forcibly disappeared persons, and missing individuals, as well as millions of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees. Entire areas have been reduced to rubble, and most of the country’s infrastructure has been nearly completely destroyed.

The statement explains that despite the immense challenges confronting Syrians during the transitional phase, this period also presents unprecedented opportunities to achieve their national aspirations. Rebuilding the state requires the establishment of governance institutions based on the rule of law and the separation of powers, as well as a determined pursuit of transitional justice to ensure accountability for violations and redress for victims, thereby fostering national reconciliation. Additionally, this stage necessitates the development of sustainable plans for infrastructure and economic reconstruction to create a healthy and sustainable economic environment, generate job opportunities, and combat corruption. Another critical issue is the return of millions of displaced Syrians, which requires the provision of safe conditions that guarantee their dignified return to their homes. Ensuring security and stability also involves building trustworthy national institutions that are free from sectarian and retaliatory tendencies while promoting a culture of coexistence.

The statement outlines the most significant and serious violations committed against the Syrian people from March 2011 to March 2025.

1. Extrajudicial killings

SNHR has documented the killing of 234,145 civilians between March 2011 and March 2025, including:

• 202,012 civilians killed by Assad regime forces.
• 32,133 civilians killed by the other parties to the conflict and controlling forces.

Children’s and women’s deaths

• 30,498 children killed in Syria during the conflict, including:
• 23,132 children killed by Assad regime forces.
• 7,366 children killed by the other parties to the conflict.
• 16,659 women (adult females) killed from March 2011 to March 2025, including:
• 12,037 women killed by Assad regime forces.
• 4,622 women killed by the other parties to the conflict.

Deaths among medical workers

• 921 medical workers killed, including 662 killed by Assad regime forces.
• 259 killed by the other parties to the conflict.

Deaths among media workers

• 724 media personnel killed, including 559 killed by Assad regime forces.
• 165 killed by the other parties to the conflict.

2. Enforced disappearance and torture

The number of those classified as forcibly disappeared rose significantly after the fall of Assad regime, with 177,021 individuals of those arrested since March 2011 still in this category. These include:

• 160,123 persons forcibly disappeared by Assad regime forces, including 3,736 children and 8,014 women.
• 16,898 persons forcibly disappeared by the other parties to the conflict.

The statement noted a significant increase in the number of people classified as forcibly disappeared following the fall of Bashar Assad’s regime on December 8, 2024, as thousands of new cases were recorded after the release of former detainees who provided information about other disappeared individuals. Additionally, continuing painstaking efforts to accurately document detainees and missing persons in detention centers, the opening of many secret detention centers, and the disclosure of portions of previously unseen official records also contributed to this increase, allowing the verification of cases that had previously been difficult to confirm.

Deaths due to torture

• 45,332 people killed under torture, including 225 children and 116 women.
• 45,031 of them killed by Assad regime forces.
• 301 killed by the other parties to the conflict.

SNHR stresses that those who died due to torture remain classified as forcibly disappeared as long as their bodies are not returned to their families. They are identified as victims who died due to torture based on testimonies from survivors, leaked security documents, and statements from families.

3. Attacks on vital facilities and civilian structures

Assad regime forces and their allies, as well as the other parties to the conflict, targeted hundreds of civilian facilities, causing severe humanitarian crises and mass displacement. At least 4,091 attacks on vital civilian infrastructure were documented, including:

• 913 attacks on medical facilities, including hospitals, health centers, and pharmacies.
• 1,475 attacks on places of worship, including mosques and churches.
• 1,703 attacks on schools and educational facilities, depriving thousands of children of their right to education.

4. Use of internationally prohibited and indiscriminate weapons

Assad regime forces and their allies used various internationally prohibited weapons, killing and injuring thousands of civilians and causing widespread destruction of infrastructure. Documented attacks include:

• 182 attacks that involved the use of incendiary ammunitions, including 52 by Assad’s forces, 125 by Russian forces, and five by US-led International Coalition forces.
• 499 cluster munition attacks, including 254 by Assad regime forces.
• 81,954 barrel bombs dropped by Syrian aircraft since 2012, killing 11,092 civilians, including 1,821 children and 1,782 women.

5. Forced displacement of more than half the population

The ongoing violations since 2011 have displaced over 13.4 million Syrians, divided between

• 7 million IDPs, many of whom have been displaced multiple times.
• 7 million refugees abroad, with neighboring countries bearing the greatest burden of hosting them.

6. Landmines and unexploded cluster munition remnants

• 3,631 civilians killed due to the explosion of landmines and cluster munition bomblets, including 949 children and 356 women.
• 10,856 civilians suffered permanent disabilities due to landmine explosions.

The statement also provides a set of practical and essential recommendations to help ensure a successful transitional phase and sustained stability. These included:

1. Strengthen and politically and economically empower the transitional government.
2. Ensure transitional justice and hold perpetrators accountable for violations.
3. Effectively implement the constitutional declaration and prepare for a permanent constitution.
4. Reform security and judicial institutions to establish the rule of law.
5. Promote national reconciliation and the restoration of social cohesion.
6. Develop a comprehensive economic plan to support development and combat corruption.
7. Support the return of displaced persons and ensure a safe environment for them.
8. Enhance security and stability and build a professional national army and security forces.
9. Strengthen international and regional relations to support the transitional phase.
10. Engage civil society, youth, and women in the reconstruction process.