Global charity withholds report into its role in Syria's 'disappeared' children
Global charity SOS Children's Villages International is refusing to release a report regarding its role in the separation of children from their families during the Syrian civil war. The organization has also failed to provide promised compensation to families affected by the regime-organized detentions.
Why it matters
This highlights accountability issues within major international NGOs operating in conflict zones and the long-term trauma inflicted on families by state-sponsored child abduction.
Image source, Ghbeis family Image caption, Sisters Layan and Layla Ghbeis (left and right) were held in an SOS orphanage for three years. They are pictured after their release with Mohamed, who was also held at an SOS orphanage
A global children's charity has said it will not release a report that it commissioned to investigate its role in separating children from their families during Syria's civil war.
The charity, SOS Children's Villages International, has also yet to give compensation to Syrian families impacted by the government-organised detentions, despite pledging to do so in plans seen by the BBC World Service, which has been working with a group of international journalists.
Under former President Bashar al-Assad, Syrian security forces took hundreds of children from their imprisoned parents and told SOS and other orphanages to hide their identities and whereabouts.
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