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Over 100,000 Missing in Syria: Women's Rights at Risk

3/28/2026

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Summary

Story summary

In Syria, more than 100,000 people are missing, leaving many women in legal and economic limbo.
Hiba Zayadin of Human Rights Watch says addressing these women's plight is crucial for transitional justice and gender equality.
Decades-old family laws grant male relatives custody and inheritance, harming women like Nora whose husband has been missing for 14 years.
Despite end of the civil war in 2024, women face barriers to legal recognition.

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Story summary

In Syria, more than 100,000 people are missing, leaving many women in legal and economic limbo.
Hiba Zayadin of Human Rights Watch says addressing these women's plight is crucial for transitional justice and gender equality.
Decades-old family laws grant male relatives custody and inheritance, harming women like Nora whose husband has been missing for 14 years.
Despite end of the civil war in 2024, women face barriers to legal recognition.