Domestic violence against children in post-conflict Syria

Introduction:

Social protection issues stand out as a top priority for rebuilding society.

This article examines a specific incident that occurred in the city of Sarmada in northern Idlib in January 2026, where a man and his wife were arrested for abusing and torturing their daughter, Elif Hazani, resulting in serious physical injuries, including a nosebleed. This incident reflects a broader pattern of domestic violence exacerbated by the armed conflict that has lasted for more than 14 years.

This article aims to provide an academic and research-based analysis of this incident, grounded in a theoretical framework that combines social psychology, international children’s rights law, and social studies on conflict.

We will also focus on the causes of domestic violence, its effects on children, and practical recommendations for raising awareness within families, while addressing the new Syrian authority (the transitional government) and civil society actors to strengthen protection mechanisms.

The analysis relies on data from reports by international organizations such as UNICEF and the United Nations, as well as recent studies on Syria after 2024.

According to UNICEF’s 2025 report, more than 7.5 million children in Syria are suffering from humanitarian needs, including protection from violence.

These figures confirm that domestic violence is a social phenomenon linked to poverty, displacement, and family disintegration resulting from the conflict.

Through this study, we aim to propose awareness strategies that contribute to building safer families and to call on the authorities to implement legal and institutional reforms.

Historical and Social Background of Domestic Violence in Syria:

The Syrian conflict, which began in 2011 due to the Assad regime’s authoritarianism, has destroyed the social fabric, leading to an increase in cases of domestic violence.

Before the fall of the regime in 2024, the Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR) documented thousands of violations against women and children, including arbitrary arrest and sexual violence. Then, after the transition, in 2025, UN reports indicated the continuation of grave violations against children, with 3,343 violations verified between October 2022 and December 2024, including recruitment and violence.

In Idlib, the area where the incident occurred, the population is suffering the effects of mass displacement.

According to a UNICEF report, local violence in 2025 led to the displacement of more than one million people, increasing the economic pressures on families.

This context explains the prevalence of domestic violence, where fathers resort to beating as a way to cope with frustration. A study published in the World Development Journal in 2025 indicated that 18% of Syrian refugee women in Jordan had experienced physical violence from their husbands, a rate that reflects the reality inside Syria.

Domestic violence encompasses multiple forms: physical, psychological, sexual, and economic. In Syria, it is linked to cultural factors such as early marriage and polygamy, as in the case of Elif, who was tortured by her stepmother. Here, the 2025 UNFPA report confirms that gender-based violence (GBV) occurs at a high rate in homes, with a particular impact on children.

Extreme poverty, with 70% of children suffering from food insecurity, exacerbates family tensions.

Legally, the laws of the former regime were inadequate to protect children.

After 2024, the transitional government announced reforms, including strengthening the child protection system, as reported in the 2025 SNHR report. However, gaps remain, such as the lack of a unified legal framework for adoption and alternative care.

The Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), which Syria ratified in 1993, requires the protection of children from all forms of violence, but its implementation is weak.

Analysis of the incident in Idlib: Causes and effects:

The incident in Sarmada reveals complex family dynamics.

The father (A.H.) admitted to hitting the child in the face, while his wife (R.B.) admitted to torturing her at his direction. This reflects a pattern of “stepmother” abuse that has been documented in studies in conflict zones.

The biological mother (Salam Hazani) also provided digital evidence, highlighting the role of technology in reporting.

The main reasons include:

1. Psychological factors: The conflict has led to psychological disorders in adults, such as depression and repressed anger.
   A UNICEF report indicates that 50,000 children received psychological support in 2025, but adults often lack access to it.
2. Economic factors: Unemployment is widespread in Idlib, exacerbating the pressures on the population.
   A UNFPA report links poverty to digital and physical violence against women and children.
3. Cultural factors: Traditional norms justify corporal punishment as “discipline,” despite its prohibition in Islam and international law.
   The effects on the child Elif include immediate physical injuries and long-term psychological effects such as anxiety and depression. Several studies also show that children exposed to domestic violence are more likely to experience violence in the future, perpetuating the cycle.
   At the community level, such incidents erode trust in institutions, especially during a transitional period.

Compared to other incidents, such as those documented in the HRW report on children in camps who are subjected to violence by guards or relatives, the need for comprehensive interventions is highlighted. The OHCHR recorded an increase in violence against women and children in 2025 during the political transition and the fall of Assad. Awareness Recommendations:

The Family Affairs Office of the Syrian Future Movement proposes the following recommendations:

1. Family Awareness:

Awareness must be fundamental to breaking the cycle of violence. We propose educational programs in schools and mosques on children’s rights, based on the CRC Convention.

For example, media campaigns that encourage positive communication within families, such as the “Safe Family” initiative, which can be implemented in cooperation with UNICEF. Parents can also learn positive parenting techniques, such as praise instead of physical punishment, as demonstrated in studies conducted in Lebanon with Syrian refugees.

Women, especially stepmothers, should be supported through psychological support groups to cope with jealousy and stress.

In Idlib, local organizations can organize workshops on co-parenting in mixed families.

2. The Syrian Authority:

We call on the transitional government to:

a. Reform the laws: Adopt a comprehensive child protection law that severely punishes domestic violence, and establish specialized courts. We also support the SJAC report’s recommendation to end child recruitment and expand protection.

B. Strengthening Institutions: Increase funding for forensic medicine and the public prosecution, as was done in this case.

Police must be trained to handle cases of violence.

C. Monitoring and Evaluation: Establish a national committee to monitor violations, in cooperation with Human Rights Watch (HRW), to ensure transparency.

3. The Role of Civil Society:

We recommend that NGOs such as SNHR and UNFPA lead awareness campaigns, such as “Voices from Syria,” which focused on GBV in 2025. Civil society can also establish support centers in Idlib for at-risk children, focusing on providing psychosocial support to the 7 million children in need.

Reporting via hotlines should also be encouraged, as was done in the Idlib incident.

In addition, civil society can collaborate with international organizations on rehabilitation programs, such as those that have assisted children in camps.

In the context of this transition, pressure must be exerted on the government to ensure women’s participation in decision-making, as recommended by SNHR in 2025.

Conclusion:

The Elif incident in Idlib reveals the ongoing challenges in post-conflict Syria, but it also presents an opportunity for change.

Through family awareness campaigns, legal reforms, and cooperation between authorities and civil society, a society that protects its children can be built. Commitment to children’s rights is essential for stability.

Therefore, we at the Syrian Future Movement call on all parties to take immediate action to prevent the recurrence of such incidents, drawing inspiration from UNICEF reports that emphasize that investing in children is key to the future.

References:

• Global Protection Cluster. “Advocacy Brief: An Overview of Gender-Based Violence in Syria – 2025.” ReliefWeb, June 23, 2025.https://reliefweb.int/report/syrian-arab-republic/advocacy-brief-overview-gender-based-violence-syria-2025. (الصفحات 1–5، نظرة عامة على العنف القائم على النوع الاجتماعي).
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