Statement from the Chair of SOS Children’s Villages International

SYRIA - 23 September 2025

Statement from the Chair of SOS Children's Villages International

First and foremost, I want to express my deepest sorrow for the immense suffering endured by children and families during the war in Syria. I am also horrified by reports documenting the Assad regime's crimes, which included the forced disappearance of thousands of children. To every family who has been affected, I acknowledge your pain, and I offer my heartfelt apology for the anguish these circumstances have caused.

Some of the children, forcibly separated from their families, were referred to organizations working with children without parental care, including facilities run by SOS Children's Villages. The pain of these children, and their families, is a tragedy that should never have happened.

As the Chair of the newly established International Board, I affirm our collective responsibility to ensure that every SOS Children's Villages Member Association upholds the highest standards of safeguarding, accountability, and transparency.

Between 2013 and 2018, 139 children were referred to the care of SOS Children's Villages in Syria by former Syrian authorities. 34 children were later reunited with their families, one child was referred to a disability center and 104 children were referred back to the authorities and remain unaccounted for.

This reality is deeply concerning, as such, we resolve, as a federation, to learn and to strengthen our systems and processes in ensuring protection and care for children in repressive and totalitarian regimes.

SOS Children's Villages International is already taking decisive action and remains committed to:

• Supporting ongoing investigations in Syria and actively assisting in efforts to reunite children with their families, using all available data and resources.

• Working in close cooperation with local authorities, civil society, and international organizations to help fast-track family tracing and reunification.

• Strengthening accountability and safeguarding mechanisms across our entire federation, building on reforms already underway.

• Reviewing and applying appropriate measures in response to this case, ensuring personal accountability is upheld and corrective actions are taken where standards have not been met.

• Enhancing transparency whenever children are referred into our care by governments, with clear processes and oversight.

• Fostering a culture of courage throughout the organization - one where defending children's rights and welfare always comes before compliance with political pressure.

I want to once again express my personal sorrow for the suffering endured by children and families. As someone who has dedicated my life to advancing children's rights, I feel this tragedy deeply. No child should ever be taken from their family or live in fear, and no parent should be left without answers about their child's fate.

The findings now coming to light challenge us to learn, to change, and to rebuild the trust placed in us. My commitment as the new Chair is to ensure that SOS Children's Villages always stands as a protector and defender of children's rights and welfare, no matter the circumstances.

Children's dignity, safety, and right to family will always be our highest priority.

Mimmo Parisi

Chair, SOS Children's Villages International