Human Rights Organization: International supervision prerequisite for safe return of IDPs

The issue of the safe return of the displaced is one of the most prominent issues in Syria, as it does not merely mean the return of people to their areas, but rather requires legal and security guaranties that protect civilians from violations, ensure the restoration of homes and rights, and allow them to live with dignity.

It also requires creating a stable environment free of mercenary armed groups, forming local security forces from the region's residents, and international oversight to ensure accountability and prevent the recurrence of violations. In the absence of these conditions, the return remains fraught with risks.

In this context, the administrator at the Human Rights Organization in Syria, Avin Jumaa, spoke about the reality of return and the obstacles that hinder its achievement.

The mercenary groups and the obstacle to return

Regarding the first obstacles, Avin Jumaa explained that the presence of armed mercenary groups in the areas of Ras al-Ain, Tal Abyad, Afrin, Manbij, Tal Rifaat, and Shahba was the main reason for the displacement of the population from the beginning, and it still prevents their return to their homes and lands to this day.

She explained that these mercenary groups used excessive force against civilians and directly targeted them, which forced the residents to leave their areas in search of safety, confirming that targeting women constituted one of the war methodologies practiced against unarmed civilians.

Ongoing violations and grave dangers

Avin Jumaa added that the return of the displaced remains fraught with danger, especially in light of the ongoing violations, as many families who attempted to return have faced arrest and extortion.

She pointed out that dozens of violations are documented monthly, without any real deterrent to limit these practices, and continued, saying: "Women and children are the most vulnerable group, given the previous experiences and the ongoing violations even after the fall of the Ba'ath regime."

Numbers documenting the extent of the violations

Avin Jumaa revealed that since the fall of the Ba'athist regime on December 8, 2024, approximately 360 people have been documented as detained in the city of Afrin alone, with some released while others remain in detention to this day.

Basic conditions for a safe return

Avin Jumaa emphasized that the withdrawal of mercenaries from the cities and occupied areas is a fundamental condition for enabling the return of civilians, as it is the main reason for their displacement and the continuation of violations against them.

Avin Jumaa called for internal security forces from the local population to take over the protection of the areas after the return of the residents, with the aim of safeguarding civilians and organizing their affairs, rather than thru mercenary groups that entered by force and continue to commit violations.

The role of the transitional government and the United Nations

She emphasized that the responsibility for ensuring safe return lies with the current transitional government, by establishing explicit legal provisions that guaranty the rights of returnees, including the removal of mercenaries from the occupied areas, forming internal security forces from the local population, and the supervision of the return process by the United Nations, ensuring documentation of any potential violations, achieving accountability, and preserving the rights of the victims.

The administrator in the Human Rights Organization, Avin Jumaa, concluded her talk by emphasizing that returning without these guaranties will remain fraught with risks and will not achieve the desired safety and stability for the displaced Syrians.

ANHA