Syrian Minister of Social Affairs and Labor Hind Kabawat said the government is working on administrative, legislative and legal reforms concerning citizenship and identity documents for children born to Syrian mothers and non-Syrian fathers, or children who lack documentation.
Speaking at a UN session on Wednesday, November 4, Kabawat said the ministry had submitted proposals concerning citizenship for children born to Syrian mothers and non-Syrian fathers to an interministerial committee formed by the General Secretariat of the Presidency.
The proposals include the following conditions:
– The marriage must be officially registered in the civil status registry.
– The mother must be Syrian by origin, rather than through naturalization.
– The applicant must have no criminal convictions.
– The relevant authorities must approve the application after all required identity documents have been obtained.
Awaiting Approval
Kabawat said the proposal was now awaiting approval. She expressed hope that the amendment would bring a shift from reliance on the father to recognition of the mother’s role, saying this was how things should naturally be.
She added that the ministries were seeking to adopt models she described as successful, including Jordan’s.
The Syrian government is also restructuring court fees for civil matters so that these costs do not stand between a child and their legal identity, according to Kabawat.
The minister highlighted simplified procedures intended to make the process easier for citizens. They no longer have to travel to their birthplace to correct an error in official records and can instead file a case seeking a correction anywhere in Syria.
The ministry is also working with UNICEF to train judges in handling cases involving separated children, with the aim of ensuring children’s best interests, according to Kabawat.
However, the minister acknowledged that the government did not have complete statistics on the children affected, saying further work was needed.
Regarding a timeline, she said the process could not be rushed and that the government needed to take the time required to “do the right thing,” because these decisions must go through the People’s Assembly.
UN Calls for Reform
The United Nations has urged the Syrian government to reform the legislative framework governing official documentation and citizenship for children, particularly those born to Syrian mothers and non-Syrian fathers, or those who lost their documents during the war.
In a paper published on Tuesday, November 3, the UN’s Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic identified Syrian children’s lack of legal identity documents as one of the war’s widespread consequences.
It said the problem was compounded in many cases by gender-based barriers to obtaining these documents.
This has long-term consequences for children’s ability to access their fundamental human rights, according to the United Nations.
Identity Documents Remain Difficult to Obtain
Human rights advocates are calling for amendments to citizenship laws, under which Syrian fathers can pass citizenship to their children, while Syrian women married to non-Syrian men can do so only under certain conditions.
Separately, years of conflict in Syria have created challenges concerning citizenship, as displacement, refuge abroad and the loss of official documents have led to legal complications in establishing parentage or registering children.
During those years, many Syrians, particularly those living in camps or outside the former Syrian regime’s control, faced difficulties registering vital events or obtaining documents for security reasons.
Insecurity, bombardment and military operations also caused Syrians to lose official government documents, particularly during displacement.