UN Secretary-General António Guterres has highlighted the resilience and courage of the Syrian people over the past year, emphasizing that meaningful change is possible when Syrians are empowered to lead their own transition. He described the coming period as an opportunity not only for political transition but also for rebuilding communities, healing divisions, and creating a nation where all citizens can live securely, equally, and with dignity, regardless of ethnicity, religion, gender, or political affiliation.
Since the fall of Assad in December 2024, the UN has worked with Syrian authorities and civil society to stabilize the country, restore essential services, expand humanitarian access, and facilitate the return of refugees and displaced persons. More than one million refugees have returned, alongside approximately two million internally displaced individuals. Efforts have also included steps toward transitional justice, with Syrian women emerging as influential voices in shaping new institutions and advocating for equality.
Despite these developments, humanitarian needs remain immense, and Syria’s progress is fragile. The UN Independent Commission of Inquiry has praised improvements such as greater access, engagement on human rights, and the creation of national transitional justice bodies, but it cautioned that sporadic violence and insecurity persist. The Commission also emphasized the continued suffering of thousands of forcibly disappeared individuals and called for an end to cycles of reprisal to ensure lasting peace.
Guterres urged the international community to support this Syrian-led transition by providing sustained funding for humanitarian efforts, removing obstacles to reconstruction, and promoting economic development. He reaffirmed the global commitment to building a foundation of peace, prosperity, and a free, sovereign, united, and inclusive Syria.
