Family Disintegration and Its Negative Impact on the Syrian Family

Introduction:

Family disintegration refers to the breakdown of family unity and the weakening of strong familial bonds. It is a complex phenomenon influenced by various social, cultural, economic, and psychological factors.

The causes of family disintegration are diverse and can be summarized as follows:

1. Divorce:
   Divorce is one of the main causes of family disintegration. It can result from factors such as persistent marital conflicts, infidelity, domestic violence, cultural differences, or financial problems.
2. Domestic Violence:
   This includes all forms of physical, psychological, and sexual abuse inflicted by one family member on another.
3. Addiction:
   Addiction to drugs or alcohol by one spouse can lead to the destruction and breakdown of the family.
4. Poverty:
   Poverty negatively impacts family stability and increases the likelihood of social and psychological issues that lead to disintegration.
5. Lack of Communication:
   The absence of open and effective dialogue between family members results in the accumulation of problems and the inability to resolve them.
6. Interference by Relatives and Friends:
   Excessive interference by relatives and friends in family matters can exacerbate problems and increase conflicts.
7. Psychological Pressures:
   Many individuals face significant psychological pressures in their daily lives, which can adversely affect their family relationships.

Effects and Consequences:

Family disintegration has significant negative effects on both individuals and society, including:

1. Impact on Children:
   Children experience severe psychological and social consequences due to family breakdown, such as depression, anxiety, learning difficulties, and aggressive behavior.
2. Health Problems:
   Family disintegration is linked to an increased risk of both mental and physical health issues.
3. Social Problems:
   It contributes to higher rates of crime, addiction, and violence within communities.
4. Weakened Family Relationships:
   Family disintegration weakens bonds among family members and diminishes the sense of belonging.

Family disintegration can be prevented through the adoption of several strategies, such as:

1. Enhancing Communication: Family members should communicate continuously, openly, and effectively to resolve issues and understand each other.
2. Seeking Support: Families facing problems can seek assistance from family counselors or psychologists for support and help.
3. Strengthening Family Bonds: Family bonds can be strengthened by spending enjoyable time together and engaging in shared activities.
4. Dealing with Problems Constructively: Family members should address problems constructively and seek common solutions.
5. Providing Financial and Emotional Support: Financial and emotional support should be provided to families facing difficulties.

Family disintegration is considered a serious social issue that requires significant efforts from individuals, government institutions, and civil society organizations to reduce and prevent it. Therefore, everyone must work together to promote family values, tolerance, and dialogue, in order to build more stable and happier communities.

About Syrian Disintegration:

Since the outbreak of the armed conflict in Syria in 2011, the country has experienced profound social transformations that have significantly impacted the structure of Syrian society, especially the family. The war led to the displacement and forced migration of millions, with many facing violence and persecution, resulting in the disintegration of many families and the scattering of their members.

The causes of family disintegration in Syria include:

1. Displacement and Refuge: Forced displacement and refuge separated family members, exposing them to difficult living conditions in host countries, which increased the pressures on family relationships.
2. Violence and Killing: Armed violence caused the death of many civilians, with numerous others being kidnapped and tortured, leading to the destruction of many families.
3. Poverty and Unemployment: The war led to a deterioration in economic conditions, an increase in poverty and unemployment rates, which increased pressures on families and raised the likelihood of disputes and conflicts.
4. Early Marriage: Some families resorted to marrying off their daughters at an early age, either to protect them from dangers or to improve the family’s economic situation, leading to the disintegration of many of these marriages.
5. Domestic Violence: Rates of domestic violence significantly increased during the war due to the psychological and social pressures individuals faced.

The ongoing conflict in Syria has left deep wounds in the social fabric, with family disintegration having a significant impact in exacerbating these wounds. Some of the negative consequences that we have observed as a result of the disintegration of Syrian families include:

1. Increase in Crime Rates: The loss of family care and the exposure of children and youth to psychological trauma have led to higher crime and delinquency rates.
2. Spread of Mental Health Issues: Many of the displaced and refugees suffer from psychological disorders such as depression and anxiety due to the trauma and loss of security they experienced.
3. Deterioration of Education: Education has been greatly affected by the conflict, with many children forced to leave school to work or flee combat zones, resulting in an uneducated generation with reduced capacity to contribute to the country’s rebuilding.
4. Weakening of Social Cohesion: The disintegration of families has weakened social bonds and eroded the values and principles that once united members of society.
5. Increased Poverty and Unemployment: Family disintegration has contributed to higher poverty and unemployment rates, as many families lost their primary breadwinner, leading to worsening living conditions.
6. Impact on National Identity: The conflict and family disintegration have caused many Syrians to lose their national identity and sense of belonging to one unified country.
7. Increase in Violence Against Women and Children: Women and children have been particularly affected by the war and family breakdown, suffering from violence and exploitation.

There are also long-term effects, including:

1. A Lost Generation: Family disintegration may lead to the emergence of a lost generation, struggling to adapt to life and facing psychological and social problems.
2. Challenges in Reconstruction: Rebuilding Syrian society after the war may be difficult in the presence of a generation suffering from deep psychological and social effects.

Family disintegration in Syria is one of the greatest challenges facing Syrian society. To overcome this issue, efforts must be made to provide psychological and social support to affected families, create job and educational opportunities, and strengthen social cohesion. Additionally, the international community must continue providing humanitarian aid to the Syrian people and work towards a political solution to the Syrian crisis. The number of displaced and refugee Syrians is estimated to be over 13 million, while the number of children who have lost one or both parents is over one million. The rates of early marriage have significantly increased among Syrian girls, especially in refugee camps.

It is difficult to obtain accurate statistics on family disintegration in Syria due to the nature of the conflict and the challenges of data collection. However, it is evident that poverty in Syria affects about 93% of Syrians, with most living below the poverty line, and over 70% of them living in extreme poverty.

Conclusion:

In this article, we have attempted to provide an overview of family disintegration and its serious impact on Syrian families. Therefore, we propose a set of recommendations from the Family Affairs Office of the Syrian Future Movement to protect Syrian families from disintegration:

1. Protection of children’s rights:
   • A. Ensuring the child’s right to live with their family whenever possible, and providing appropriate alternative care if that is not possible.
   • B. Protecting children from all forms of violence, exploitation, and neglect.
   • C. Ensuring the child’s right to education, health, and healthcare.
2. Protection of women’s rights:
   • A. Combating violence against women, including domestic violence.
   • B. Empowering women economically and socially.
   • C. Ensuring gender equality in rights and duties.
3. Right to housing and basic services:
   • A. Providing adequate housing for families affected by the conflict.
   • B. Ensuring access to clean water, sanitation, and healthcare.
4. Right to work and assemble:
   • A. Supporting sustainable livelihoods for families.
   • B. Providing employment opportunities and skill training.
   • C. Protection from torture and inhuman treatment:
   • D. Protecting all family members from torture, inhuman, and degrading treatment.
5. Right to family reunification:
   • By facilitating the procedures for family reunification that were separated due to the conflict.
6. International cooperation:
   • A. Strengthening cooperation between countries to provide humanitarian and legal assistance to Syrian families.
   • B. Supporting reconstruction efforts and providing employment opportunities.

The importance of these recommendations, according to the vision of the Syrian Future Movement, lies in maintaining social cohesion, as families are the cornerstone of society, and protecting them contributes to the stability of society as a whole.

Additionally, children are the most affected by conflicts, and protecting them ensures a better future for them.

Implementing these recommendations also contributes to strengthening respect for human rights and international law.

Protecting Syrian families from fragmentation requires joint efforts from the international community, de facto authorities, and humanitarian organizations. By implementing these recommendations, we can contribute to building a better future for Syrian families.

Family Affairs Office
Wehba Al-Masri
Articles
Syrian Future Movement