A/RES/80/224 GA

United Nations A/RES/80/224 General Assembly Distr.: General 22 December 2025 25-20990 (E) *2520990* Eightieth session Agenda item 71 (c) Promotion and protection of human rights: human rights situations and reports of special rapporteurs and representatives Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 18 December 2025 [on the report of the Third Committee (A/80/545, para. 5)] 80/224. Situation of human rights in the Syrian Arab Republic The General Assembly, Guided by the Charter of the United Nations, Reaffirming the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights1 and relevant international human rights treaties, including the International Covenants on Human Rights, 2 Reaffirming its strong commitment to full respect for the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of the Syrian Arab Republic and to the principles of the Charter of the United Nations, Welcoming the end in December 2024 of the Assad regime, which failed to meet its responsibility to respect, protect and fulfil the human rights of all persons within its jurisdiction, and recalling the findings of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic and other United Nations bodies indicating reasonable grounds that crimes against humanity and war crimes have been committed in Syria, Deploring that the Assad regime had systematically used arbitrary detention, torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, including sexual violence and violence against women and girls, enforced disappearances and other detention- related abuses, to intimidate, punish and coerce perceived political opponents, dissenting civilians and their family members, in addition to summary executions, extrajudicial killings, the targeting of civilians and the use of chemical weapons, as documented by the Commission of Inquiry and the International, Impartial and _______________ 1 Resolution 217 A (III). 2 Resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. A/RES/80/224 Situation of human rights in the Syrian Arab Republic 25-20990 2/7 Independent Mechanism to Assist in the Investigation and Prosecution of Persons Responsible for the Most Serious Crimes under International Law Committed in the Syrian Arab Republic since March 2011, and emphasizing the need to ensure accountability for the most serious crimes under international law, Recognizing that Syria stands at a historic crossroads, with an opportunity to move beyond the legacy of repression and conflict towards a new chapter defined by representation, accountability and stability, and acknowledging that the Syrian Government and people are navigating a transition amid some of the most complex challenges seen globally, Commending the progress achieved since December 2024, while reiterating that the political transition process in Syria must fulfil the aspirations of all Syrians, protect all Syrians and enable them to peacefully and independently determine a representative future, and underscoring that the path forward for Syria must remain anchored in dialogue, accountability and broad-based participation, and that failure to do so risks renewed violence, fragmentation and prolonged instability, Welcoming in this regard statements by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of the Syrian Arab Republic that those governing Syria bear profound responsibility to ensure that all atrocities, abuses and violations, including those committed by the former regime, are never repeated, and that the Syrian people deserve a homeland where their rights are respected, protected and fulfilled, their voices are heard and their dignity is preserved, Emphasizing the importance of transitional justice, including victims’ meaningful participation, in order to ensure accountability, end impunity, promote reconciliation and prevent the recurrence of atrocities, abuses and human rights violations, in accordance with international law, including international human rights law and international humanitarian law, Recognizing the need for a survivor-centred approach in preventing and responding to all crimes, including sexual violence in conflict and post-conflict situations, and further recognizing the need for survivors of all crimes, including sexual violence, to receive non‑discriminatory access to services such as medical and psychosocial care to the fullest extent practicable and need to be free from torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, and that violations of the obligations on the treatment of victims can amount to serious violations of international law, Underscoring the contributions of international mechanisms, including the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Commission of Inquiry, the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism and the Independent Institution on Missing Persons in the Syrian Arab Republic, with respect to their independent and complementary mandates, in providing support to the national efforts undertaken by the Government of Syria, including the National Commission on Transitional Justice and the National Commission on Missing Persons, to ensure Syrian-led, Syrian-owned truth, justice and accountability, and welcoming the increasing access granted by the Government of Syria to support investigations and accountability efforts, which is unprecedented in the country’s recent history, Reaffirming the importance of efforts by the Government of Syria to foster dialogue among representatives of the country’s many different communities, while also actively working to safeguard religious sites and protect and preserve the rich religious and cultural heritage and life of Syria, recognizing that these actions are vital to promoting stability, peace and prosperity throughout the country, Situation of human rights in the Syrian Arab Republic A/RES/80/224 3/7 25-20990 Acknowledging the important role of Syrian and international civil society, human rights defenders, victims, survivors and their families in documenting violations and abuses in Syria throughout the conflict and post-conflict period, often at great personal risk, in pursuit of truth, justice and accountability, and emphasizing the importance of their ongoing contribution to the transitional justice process, Recognizing the role that women and youth peacebuilders and Syrian returnees continue to play as part of the transition in Syria, including through promoting good governance, fostering the participation of the country’s various communities, building a shared national identity and driving shared prosperity, Reiterating its grave concern at the findings of the Investigation and Identification Team of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons attributing responsibility for multiple chemical weapons attacks to the former Assad regime and in one instance to Da’esh, and expressing its strong conviction that all those responsible for the use of chemical weapons in Syria must be held accountable, noting in this regard that Syria has committed to investigating and holding to account perpetrators of any use of chemical weapons on its territory, Welcoming the commitment expressed during the 108th session of the Executive Council of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of the Syrian Arab Republic to work with the Technical Secretariat of the Organisation and other States Parties to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction towards the rapid and complete elimination of the Assad regime’s chemical weapons programme in accordance with the obligations of Syria under Security Council resolution 2118 (2013) of 27 September 2013 and the Chemical Weapons Convention, encouraging the Government to continue its cooperation with the Organisation, and welcoming also the steps taken by the new Government of Syria to support and facilitate the work of the Technical Secretariat, despite the challenges facing the country after 14 years of war, Noting that, despite the welcome release by the Government of Syria of prisoners since 8 December 2024, efforts to establish the fates and whereabouts of those who remain missing and those who have gone missing since that date and the need to support victims, survivors and their families, including through psychosocial assistance, will continue for years to come, encouraging the continued coordination and cooperation between the Syrian National Commission for Missing Persons, civil society, including survivors and family associations and groups, the Independent Institution on Missing Persons, Syrian and international civil society organizations and other technical experts on these efforts, and reiterating the call of the General Assembly in its resolution 77/301 of 29 June 2023 for all States and other relevant actors to cooperate with the Independent Institution, which is humanitarian in nature, Underscoring the urgent need to preserve and secure all documentation, information and evidence related to crimes committed by all parties against civilians, atrocities, abuses and violations of human rights and violations of international humanitarian law, to ensure Syrian-led, Syrian-owned accountability, supported by the continuation of international efforts to this end, Welcoming the engagement of Syria with the International Atomic Energy Agency, and stressing support for Syria to continue to engage constructively with the Agency on all outstanding issues related to the Assad regime’s nuclear activities, Expressing deep concern over the reports of serious human rights violations and abuses and alarming allegations of attacks on the civilian population since December 2024, including violence in Suwayda’ and southern Syria in July 2025, in the north- east of Syria and the attacks of June 2025 in Damascus, and an alarming report by the A/RES/80/224 Situation of human rights in the Syrian Arab Republic 25-20990 4/7 Commission of Inquiry that found a wave of violence since January in coastal and western central Syria, including in Latakia, including reports of abductions, enforced disappearances and arbitrary detentions, and acts that may amount to war crimes, the latter being perpetrated by both the remnants of the Assad regime and aligned militias and individuals linked to the interim government force, as well as by private individuals, and acknowledging that the access granted by the Syrian Government to the Commission enabled the Commission to conduct its investigations independently, without interference and in full conformity with its mandate, Welcoming recent statements by the Syrian authorities condemning the violence in coastal and southern regions and initiating steps to investigate and hold accountable those responsible, including the establishment of national fact-finding commissions, and stressing the need to end impunity for all violations and abuses, past and present, in a manner consistent with international obligations, commitments and standards, Acknowledging the continuous threat that anti‑personnel mines and indiscriminate explosive weapons pose to civilians, including many children and women, which have killed thousands and restrict access to essential lands, severely impacting daily life and safety, Encouraging efforts by the Government of Syria in accordance with its obligations under international law, to take steps to prevent terrorist groups from operating in Syrian territory, in line with international law, to safeguard peace and enhance security and stability, while underlining the importance of ensuring the access of all Syrians to representation and participation in the political process and State institutions, Welcoming the lifting of most sanctions applied to Syria, including recent exemptions, exceptions and suspensions of sanctions and restrictive measures, and encouraging further steps to lift remaining sanctions in line with developments on the ground and where consistent with international law and accountability efforts in order to enhance the delivery of humanitarian aid throughout Syria, and promote long-term recovery and reconstruction efforts in support of the country’s prosperity and long- term stability, Noting that, according to the United Nations, more than 1 million Syrian refugees and 1.8 million internally displaced persons have returned home since December 2024, and expressing deep appreciation for the significant efforts that have been made by neighbouring countries and other countries in the region to accommodate Syrian refugees, while noting that more than half of the population of Syria remains displaced from their homes, including 4.5 million refugees living abroad and more than 7 million internally displaced persons inside the country, Calling for the implementation of Security Council resolution 2475 (2019) of 20 June 2019 on the situation of persons with disabilities in armed conflict, expressing serious concern regarding the disproportionate impact that armed conflict has on persons with disabilities, in particular on women and children with disabilities, including abandonment, violence and lack of access to basic services, stressing the protection and assistance needs of all affected civilian populations, and emphasizing the need to consider the particular needs of persons with disabilities in humanitarian response by the Syrian Government, 1. Affirms support for the Syrian people in their pursuit of a peaceful, representative and comprehensive political process, in line with the spirit of Security Council resolution 2254 (2015) of 18 December 2015 and in line with the stated commitment of the Syrian Government to a comprehensive political transition; Situation of human rights in the Syrian Arab Republic A/RES/80/224 5/7 25-20990 2. Welcomes the recent parliamentary elections in Syria as a step forward in the country’s political process, while recognizing the need for continued efforts to enhance the participation, representation and leadership of women and girls from all of the religious and ethnic communities in Syria, in a free and dignified manner, as well as the need to draft a permanent constitution and hold general elections, and looks forward to the final results of the elections once they have occurred throughout Hasakah, Raqqah and Suwayda’; 3. Also welcomes the establishment by the Government of Syria of a National Commission on Transitional Justice and encourages the Commission to seek accountability for all victims of mass atrocity crimes, in accordance with international law, while cooperating with and receiving technical support from national and international bodies, including Syrian and international civil society, further welcomes the Constitutional Declaration signed in March 2025 affirming that the State shall respect, protect and fulfil human rights, including the prohibition of enforced disappearance and torture and fundamental freedoms, notes with support the provisions made on freedom of expression, freedom of religion or belief and women’s and girls’ full enjoyment of human rights, and in this regard calls for their implementation, and expresses its hope that the Constitutional Declaration will serve as a solid framework for a successful, orderly, comprehensive and representative transition and a peaceful future for Syria, ensuring human rights and fundamental freedoms for all Syrians, in line with obligations under international law, achieving justice and accountability and upholding good governance and the rule of law; 4. Encourages the Government of Syria to ensure a viable path towards credible accountability for all crimes, including any crimes committed since December 2024, that ensures access to justice to the victims, survivors and their families and contributes to reconciliation and a peaceful future for all Syrians, and recognizes in this regard the fact that the Constitutional Declaration includes a provision to establish a National Commission on Transitional Justice, but also recognizes the multitude of challenges faced by the Syrian Government in its pursuit of accountability and transitional justice; 5. Calls upon the Government of Syria to ensure that allegations of attacks and crimes against the civilian population are investigated, and that perpetrators are held to account through transparent and appropriate judicial mechanisms that are consistent with international law, and acknowledges in this regard the commitment made at the highest levels of Syria on 9 March 2025 to hold accountable all those involved in violations and abuses during the events of March 2025; 6. Welcomes the actions of the Government of Syria to combat drug trafficking within the country’s borders and across the region, including enhanced law enforcement measures, significant seizures of narcotics such as Captagon, and increased cooperation and coordination with neighbouring countries to dismantle transnational trafficking and large-scale production networks, which the former Assad regime weaponized as a tool to destabilize the region, with severe consequences for security and public health across neighbouring States; 7. Supports the Government of Syria in its efforts to ensure the preservation of documentation, information and evidence related to crimes committed by all parties against civilians, including mass burial sites, and encourages the Government of Syria to develop a comprehensive and trusted system for maintaining such evidence in the long term, and encourages Syrian authorities to partner with the international community and relevant United Nations mechanisms, including the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism to Assist in the Investigation and Prosecution of Persons Responsible for the Most Serious Crimes under International Law Committed in the Syrian Arab Republic since March 2011,in these efforts; A/RES/80/224 Situation of human rights in the Syrian Arab Republic 25-20990 6/7 8. Welcomes the establishment by the Government of Syria of the National Commission on Missing Persons, as well as the Secretary-General’s appointment of an Assistant Secretary-General as the Head of the Independent Institution on Missing Persons in the Syrian Arab Republic, in this regard recalls Security Council resolution 2474 (2019) of 11 June 2019 and urges the Independent Institution on Missing Persons to undertake all efforts in implementation of its mandate to clarify the fate and whereabouts of all missing persons in Syria, calls upon the Government of Syria and the Independent Institution on Missing Persons and all relevant national and international actors to cooperate closely to provide adequate support to victims, survivors and the families of those missing, to ensure the full, equal, meaningful and safe participation and representation of victims, survivors and the families of missing persons in the Syrian Arab Republic in this endeavour and to coordinate support in this regard, and requests the Head of the Independent Institution on Missing Persons to provide an annual briefing on the implementation of its mandate, including cooperation and complementation with the Syrian National Commission on Missing Persons and other international actors; 9. Encourages the Government of Syria to expand its positive engagement with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism, the Independent Institution on Missing Persons and the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic and to cooperate fully with these mechanisms, including with regard to access, and with victim associations and groups, and in this regard calls upon these organizations and mechanisms to continue to coordinate their approach and activities to ensure effectiveness; 10. Welcomes the continued funding for the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism through the programme budget, and invites the Secretary- General to address the Mechanism’s significantly increased workload since 2020 in particular to meet the growing demands from competent jurisdictions and renewed prospects for justice after the end of the former Syrian regime, to facilitate access to justice for victims, survivors and witnesses while ensuring their safety and protection in cooperation with the Government of Syria, and to respond to the increased need to preserve existing information and evidence at risk of loss or destruction; 11. Encourages Member States to support efforts of the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism, the Independent Institution on Missing Persons and the Commission of Inquiry, as appropriate, to enable them to respond effectively to the new reality in Syria, enable capacity-building and technical assistance, and to complement national Syrian-led, Syrian-owned processes in line with their respective mandates, while reaffirming the role of the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism and the Commission of Inquiry in supporting investigations and prosecutions in national and international courts and tribunals; 12. Reaffirms the importance of representative nationally owned security sector reform efforts as part of stabilization, reconstruction and the political transition in Syria, as well as their importance in addressing impunity for violations and abuses of human rights and violations of international humanitarian law, where applicable, while contributing to the rule of law; 13. Encourages the Syrian Government to continue to undertake security sector reform, informed by the needs and aspirations of the population, as part of broader efforts to protect, promote and uphold human rights, in accordance with international law; 14. Expresses its support for civil society, human rights defenders, victims, survivors and their families and for their continued role in Syrian-led, Syrian-owned, Situation of human rights in the Syrian Arab Republic A/RES/80/224 7/7 25-20990 comprehensive and victim-centred transitional justice and accountability efforts, as well as the political transition process, and in this regard stresses the importance of protecting a pluralistic civic space and media freedom in the political and economic transition; 15. Expresses its gratitude to the United Nations, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and the many humanitarian non‑governmental organizations that have provided humanitarian assistance to Syrian civilians during more than 14 years of hardship and suffering, recognizes the many humanitarian donors who supported these efforts over this time, also recognizes the need for further action to address the critical humanitarian situation in the country, and encourages continued cooperation between the Government of Syria and the United Nations as reconstruction is carried out within the country, and with humanitarian and development organizations as humanitarian recovery and reconstruction work is delivered across Syria; 16. Encourages continued cooperation between the Government of Syria and the United Nations to create the conditions on the ground to facilitate the return of refugees and internally displaced persons in a safe, voluntary, informed and dignified manner; 17. Emphasizes the importance of international support for a nationally led and owned political transition, including Syria’s five-year plan, which has been self- articulated by the national authorities to safeguard the rights of all citizens, draft a permanent constitution and hold general elections; 18. Encourages the United Nations, Member States and other relevant stakeholders to support a Syrian-owned and Syrian-led representative political process and provide support to the Government of Syria in national reconciliation efforts and in implementing representative governance in the country, including through support, as requested, to national efforts in institutional reform and in strengthening national capacities across governance, administrative, justice and accountability, security and law enforcement and development sectors, in a manner that respects the sovereignty of Syria and aligns with its national priorities, while expressing concern regarding foreign interference in the transitional process of Syria and urging all external actors to respect the Charter of the United Nations and international law, as well as the unity, independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria. 69th plenary meeting 18 December 2025

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