Commemorative Ceremony for Children in Syria and Press Release in Cologne – Handover of a Petition to UNICEF Germany

The Association for Human Rights in Syria (GMS) called for a commemorative ceremony for the children in Syria yesterday (06.05.2025) at the Neumarkt in Cologne’s Old Town, followed by a press release.

Although the GMS was founded recently (12.04.2025) in Mannheim, it has been drawing attention to the humanitarian catastrophe in Syria with significant international appeals ever since. Most recently, an appeal was made to the United Nations Security Council at the end of April.

The GMS had already submitted a draft petition to the German Committee for UNICEF, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UN), on May 5, 2025. According to the association, the final document will be submitted soon.

This petition, which has been signed by around 30 well-known associations, organizations and other institutions (including the International Alevi Foundation) from Europe and Turkey, will be submitted by the GMS “to draw attention to the serious and systematic violations of children’s rights currently taking place in Syria. These violations particularly affect children from Alawite, Druze, Christian and other minority communities.”

The press release read out by the chairman of the association, Prof. Dr. Jens Kreinath, continues:

“These violations are in direct contravention of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, international humanitarian law and fundamental human dignity. Based on verifiable information from sources and witnesses on the ground, we highlight the following main areas of concern in the report:

• Systematic killing of children
• Forcible abduction of children
• Orphaned and unaccompanied children
• Militarization and indoctrination by extremist groups.”

The report then lists specific measures UNICEF intends to take action against serious human rights violations.

Finally, in view of the desolate human rights situation in Syria, the GMS emphasizes its willingness to work “directly and sustainably with UNICEF”, particularly with regard to “supporting and establishing investigative procedures”.

You can download the press release of the Association for Human Rights in Syria (GMS) here.

Photo: Nezahat Gündoğan

Photo: Nezahat Gündoğan

Photo: Nezahat Gündoğan

Photo: Nezahat Gündoğan

Photo: Nezahat Gündoğan

Photo: Nezahat Gündoğan

Photo: Nezahat Gündoğan

Photo: Nezahat Gündoğan

Foto: Klaus R. Müller; Creative Commons Lizenz CC BY-SA 4.0

Article created by:   Alevi-Portal.net
Date of publication:   07.05.2025