Syrian Arab Republic
As of mid-February 2026, Syria is navigating a fragile and complex political transition following the collapse of the Assad regime in late 2024. While the transitional government under President Ahmed al-Sharaa has made strides in reconnecting with the international community, the human rights situation remains precarious, marked by renewed internal conflict and a staggering humanitarian crisis.
1. Political Transition and Kurdish Rights
The first weeks of 2026 have been dominated by a major military and political shift in the northeast.
Northeast Offensive (January 2026): Syrian transitional forces launched a rapid offensive against the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). By late January, a ceasefire was established, leading to a landmark deal on February 13, 2026, to integrate the northeast into the Syrian state.
Presidential Decree: President al-Sharaa issued a historic decree in early 2026 officially recognizing the cultural, linguistic, and citizenship rights of Syria's Kurdish population, a move welcomed by the UN as a cornerstone for national unity.
Constitutional Delay: A primary grievance in early 2026 is the lack of a permanent constitution. The Constitutional Declaration of March 2025 serves as an interim framework, but the drafting of a final document—and subsequent transitional justice for regime-era crimes—remains a major goal for later this year.
2. Humanitarian Crisis and Displacement
Despite the political changes, the humanitarian landscape is at its most strained in a decade.
Famine and Hunger: Syria is facing its worst drought in 36 years. As of February 2026, roughly 70% of the population (16.7 million people) requires humanitarian aid. An estimated 13 million face acute food insecurity.
Mass Returns: Since late 2024, over 1.2 million refugees and 1.9 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) have returned to their home areas. However, they face destroyed infrastructure, landmines (explosive ordnance), and a lack of basic services like water and electricity.
Detention "Black Holes": UN experts in early 2026 raised alarms over the thousands of women and children still held in camps formerly controlled by the SDF. The transition of these camps to national control has sparked concerns about legal due process and the risk of summary executions.
3. Women’s Rights: Equality vs. Custom
Women in Syria are caught between progressive constitutional promises and conservative social realities.
Constitutional Guarantees: The 2025 interim constitution stipulates gender equality. However, it still contains vague provisions regarding the "role of women within the family" and lacks a ban on spousal rape.
SGBV Risks: A joint statement by UN Security Council members on February 13, 2026, highlighted ongoing reports of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), particularly in areas affected by recent clashes.
Political Participation: International partners are pushing for the "full and meaningful" participation of women in the 2026 constitutional drafting process, though many discriminatory laws from the previous regime have yet to be revoked.
4. Freedom of Expression and the 2026 Media Code
The transitional government is attempting to regulate a media landscape that was previously under total state control.
Media Code of Conduct: On February 15, 2026, the Ministry of Information launched the "2026 Professional and Ethical Media Code of Conduct." While officials frame it as a tool for "responsible freedom," some journalists criticize it as a government-led attempt to maintain control over independent syndicates.
Disinformation: The code specifically targets the combatting of hate speech and misinformation, which has surged during the recent military shifts in the northeast.
5. LGBTQ+ Rights: Persistent Criminalization
There has been virtually no legal progress for LGBTQ+ individuals under the transitional government.
Penal Code: Article 520 of the 1949 Penal Code, which criminalizes "unnatural sexual intercourse" with up to three years in prison, remains active as of February 2026.
Social Persecution: LGBTQ+ Syrians continue to face violence from both non-state actors (including remnants of extremist groups) and social vigilantes. The community remains largely underground, with no formal anti-discrimination protections in the transitional legal framework.