What Happened?
During the conflict, many children were unjustly and forcibly separated from their parents by security authorities and placed into care, including at SOS Children’s Villages, often without proper documentation, and allegedly with altered names. In addition to placements, the security forces also controlled the children’s duration in care, removal from care and their family reunification processes. These actions reflected the absence of a functioning child protection system grounded in international standards.
We condemn these practices unequivocally. This should never have happened.
We acknowledge that despite our best intentions, not all decisions made during this period met the standards we hold ourselves to. We are learning from these failures and have taken concrete steps to prevent this from happening again.
Our Actions
Halting Improper Placements
In 2018, SOS Children’s Villages took decisive action to stop accepting children into our care without proper documentation. We firmly believe that no child should ever be separated from their family unless it is in their best interests - and only through a documented, transparent, and child-centred process.
Family Tracing support
Our comprehensive records review revealed that between 2013 and 2018, 139 children without proper documentation were placed in the care of SOS Children’s Villages:
We are collaborating with government institutions, civil society, and humanitarian organizations to support ongoing family tracing efforts and enable reunification. This work remains our immediate priority.
We encourage families to submit inquiries through our secure reporting channels if they believe a child may have been separated and placed in our programmes.
Accountability
Since 2020, under a new national management team, SOS Children's Villages Syria has strengthened operations to align with international safeguarding standards.
In May 2025, Ms. Samar Daboul, President of the Board of SOS Children’s Villages Syria, stepped down to allow ongoing investigations to proceed without any impediment.
In July 2025, the Board of SOS Children’s Villages Syria suspended their National Director, Mr. Samer Khaddam, to ensure an impartial investigation process. An interim National Director has been appointed.
Investigations
SOS Children’s Villages commissioned two independent international investigations to ensure transparency and accountability. SOS Children’s Villages International has commissioned an independent investigation – its findings are expected in November 2025. In parallel, the summary report of the independent investigation commissioned by our German member association, SOS Kinderdörfer Weltweit, is publicly available here.
At the request of SOS Children’s Villages Syria, the Damascus Prosecutor initiated investigations into unresolved cases of missing children. This process is ongoing.
Our Commitment
All members of the SOS Children’s Villages federation are committed to protecting the privacy and safety of all children and families involved. We will ensure that all family tracing efforts are conducted with compassion, confidentiality, and respect for the dignity and safety of everyone involved.
Since 2021, we have been strengthening safeguarding, accountability, and transparency across all member associations worldwide, and we remain dedicated to upholding the highest standards of protection for those in our care.
Children's dignity, safety, and right to family will always remain our highest priority. As the world's largest organization supporting children without parental care or at risk of losing it, our mission is grounded in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the UN Guidelines for the Alternative Care of Children. We will continue standing with children and youth for as long as we are needed: protecting them and helping them grow with the bonds of love and belonging they deserve.
* In addition to the 139 cases, there is one disputed case where classification in this group is unclear.
Read the statement by Mimmo Parisi, Chair of the Board of SOS Children’s Villages International.