Adolescent Boys Separated from Mothers in Detention Camps in Syria, Violating International Law
In a recent report, a United Nations expert has highlighted the systematic separation of adolescent boys from their mothers in detention camps in northeast Syria. Fionnuala Ni Aolain, the special rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights while countering terrorism, visited the Kurdish-controlled camps and witnessed the separation of hundreds of boys without any legal procedure. This practice is primarily targeting third-country nationals, who come from countries other than Syria and Iraq.
The separation of boys from their mothers is based on an unproven security risk that male children pose upon reaching adolescence. Ni Aolain emphasized that every boy she met was clearly traumatized by the separation, with some boys as young as 11 years old. This systematic practice of enforced separation is a clear violation of international law.
The detention camps in question, Al-Hol and Al-Roj, are holding an estimated 52,000 people from 57 countries, including terrorists and their family members. Sixty percent of the detainees are children, mostly under the age of 12. While acknowledging the political and security complexity of the situation, Ni Aolain stressed that it does not justify the mass indefinite and arbitrary detention of children, especially boys.
The urgent repatriation of these children is necessary, and Ni Aolain emphasized that both the US-backed local authorities and the home countries bear responsibility for these rights violations. Western governments have faced criticism for not taking back more of their citizens who traveled to Iraq and Syria to join terrorist groups like Daesh. Although there has been some positive movement on repatriation, with the number of detainees decreasing from over 70,000, Ni Aolain warned that at the current rate, these facilities could remain in operation for at least 20 years.
Ni Aolain’s visit to the camps allowed her to conduct interviews and gather information, but she was not granted access to the Al-Hol annex, which holds around 10,000 third-country nationals. She called for broader access to ensure transparency and accountability for the treatment of detainees and their children. The security rationale for separating boys from their mothers does not hold up, as grown men are allowed to remain in the general camp population. Additionally, Ni Aolain observed that many young boys were being held in adult male prisons.
While repatriations have increased, countries are primarily taking back women and children, leaving these boys without a future as they age. This situation effectively condemns them to a life of imprisonment within the facility. Ni Aolain expressed her concern that there seems to be no understanding among authorities that detaining children in an unending cycle of cradle-to-grave detention is a clear violation of international law.
The separation of adolescent boys from their mothers in detention camps in northeast Syria is a grave violation of human rights and international law. It causes irreparable harm to the boys and goes against the principle of keeping families together. The urgent repatriation of these children is necessary to ensure their well-being and protect their rights. It is crucial for both the US-backed local authorities and the home countries to take responsibility for these violations and work towards a solution that respects human rights and upholds international law.
The international community must also hold Western governments accountable for their failure to repatriate their citizens who joined terrorist groups. It is essential to address the complex political and security challenges while ensuring that children are not subjected to indefinite detention. The systematic separation of boys from their mothers is a distressing reality that demands immediate action and a commitment to protecting the rights of all individuals, regardless of their circumstances.