The Syrian Future Movement expresses its deep appreciation for the conclusion of the National Conference on Disability, held under the theme “Empowerment, Inclusion, and Integration,” under the auspices of the General Secretariat of the Presidency of the Republic and organized by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, at the Visual Arts Center in Damascus over two days (December 17-18, 2025). We view this conference as a significant strategic step towards strengthening the fundamental rights of persons with disabilities, within the context of a crucial transitional phase in which Syria is rebuilding its social and economic institutions.
The Syrian Future Movement considers the conference’s recommendations—which include activating the National Council for the Affairs of Persons with Disabilities, developing a comprehensive national strategy for the years 2026-2030, incorporating disability-related specializations into the official employment structure, promoting educational, vocational, and social inclusion, establishing an advanced national database, amending Legislative Decree No. 19 of 2008, and adopting an inclusive, barrier-free environment—to be a robust theoretical framework that aligns with Syria’s international obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
However, the true value of these recommendations lies in their transformation into concrete, practical policies, supported by sufficient financial and human resources, and independent oversight that ensures transparency and accountability. This is especially crucial given the economic and social challenges facing the country after years of conflict, which have led to a significant increase in the number of people with disabilities. As highlighted in our report on “The Health Situation in Syria,” dated November 17, 2023, the urgent need to support this group through life-saving services and international and national coordination to reach vulnerable populations was emphasized.
The Syrian Future Movement operates from its comprehensive national vision, which affirms that building the future of Syria rests on the foundations of social justice and full inclusion. This vision was expressed in our statement on the occasion of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (December 3, 2024), where we stressed the necessity of amplifying the voices of people with disabilities in Syria, highlighting their suffering due to the lack of health, education, and social services, calling on the international community to provide humanitarian support, rehabilitate infrastructure to be accessible to people with disabilities, raise awareness of their rights to change negative societal perceptions, and guarantee their participation in decision-making.
As we emphasized in our statement on World Down Syndrome Day (March 21, 2025), public policies must be empowered to provide comprehensive support programs from childhood to adulthood, including inclusive education and vocational training, raising community awareness to combat social stigma, and establishing specialized centers for early diagnosis and psychological support for families, while placing the rights of persons with disabilities at the heart of development plans.
In the context of urban development, as stated in our paper “The Syrian Future Movement and Urban Development” (April 23, 2024), development must be human-centered, guaranteeing equal rights for persons with disabilities to access public services and earn a living in a fair and dignified manner, to promote social inclusion and justice.
In this context, the Syrian Future Movement affirms that the success of these recommendations requires the genuine and effective participation of persons with disabilities themselves and independent civil society organizations in formulating the national strategy and monitoring its implementation. This includes allocating clear budgets for preventative programs, early detection, psychological care, and vocational rehabilitation, and expanding the scope to include all Syrian regions without geographical or social discrimination. We also believe that any delay in implementation or lack of commitment could exacerbate structural challenges, such as the shortages of resources and medicines we highlighted earlier, and hinder the achievement of the genuine inclusion to which the Syrian people aspire.
The Syrian Future Movement, born from the heart of the revolution and committed to its principles of dignity and justice, sees the empowerment of people with disabilities as a fundamental pillar for building a strong and cohesive Syrian state, where everyone contributes to shaping a bright future that reflects human diversity as a strength, not a weakness. We are fully prepared for constructive dialogue and cooperation with all relevant parties, including the government and international organizations, to translate these recommendations into reality, strengthening social cohesion and comprehensive development, drawing on our past experiences in defending the rights of vulnerable groups as an integral part of the national vision.
