On Targeting Schools in Northern Syria
We witness, with the beginning of the new academic year, a blatant continuation of the targeting of schools in northern Syria, which represents a clear violation of international humanitarian law and relevant Security Council resolutions. These heinous crimes target the future of entire generations, undermining efforts to build a peaceful and stable society.
The Syrian Future Movement considers the targeting of schools, which are neutral civilian facilities, to be aimed at destroying educational infrastructure, terrorizing civilians, and depriving them of their basic right to education. Therefore, these criminal acts cannot be justified in any way, and they constitute a war crime that requires legal accountability.
The Syrian Future Movement strongly condemns these crimes and calls for an immediate and complete halt to all attacks on schools and educational facilities.
The Syrian Future Movement calls for the full protection of schools, students, and teachers.
The Syrian Future Movement calls for an independent and impartial investigation into all incidents that have targeted or continue to target educational facilities, especially schools.
The Syrian Future Movement demands the accountability of those responsible for these crimes and their prosecution, emphasizing the necessity of not allowing these crimes to be time-barred.
The Syrian Future Movement demands the provision of necessary support to rehabilitate the damaged schools and provide a safe educational environment for children.
The Syrian Future Movement calls on the international community to take responsibility and take urgent action to stop these serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law. The Syrian Future Movement commends the role of the civil defense in northern Syria and praises its recent report titled “Policy Brief: Worrying Rise in Attacks on Schools in Northwestern Syria,” supporting its recommendations, particularly the call for investigative committees to establish local bodies or support local committees inside Syria to document crimes against children, including attacks on schools.
