# Syria Advances Citizenship Rights for Children of Syrian Mothers Government proposal aims to allow Syrian women to pass citizenship to their children. - **Source:** [The New Arab](https://www.newarab.com) - **Published:** 2026-11-04 - **Topic:** [politics](https://brifing.si/c/politics) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/2019c1db-7c6f-4616-b435-21233bf243af ## Legislative Reform Proposal Social Affairs and Labour Minister Hind Kabawat announced that Syria is nearing a policy shift regarding citizenship. The government is currently at the approval stage for a proposal allowing Syrian women married to foreign nationals to pass their nationality to their children. This initiative aims to address long-standing legal identity challenges facing these families. ## Addressing Legal Vulnerabilities Children lacking legal documentation or citizenship face severe risks, including social marginalization and restricted access to essential services. Minister Kabawat emphasized that these issues are particularly acute for families affected by displacement or those where fathers are absent. The government intends to implement reforms to ensure these children secure their fundamental rights and identities. ## Current Legal Framework Syria’s existing nationality legislation is governed by Legislative Decree No. 276 of 1969. Under this current law, Syrian women cannot automatically pass citizenship to their children. Article 3 only permits citizenship for children of Syrian mothers if their legal relationship to their fathers remains unestablished, creating significant barriers for many families today. ## United Nations Intervention The announcement followed a call from the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Syria, which urged Damascus to reform nationality laws. The commission highlighted that gender-based legal barriers prevent children from accessing rights. They recommended that Syria ensure equality between women and men in passing citizenship and provide necessary technical support for implementation. ## Impact of Conflict The ongoing war has exacerbated the urgency of this reform, as many women married foreign nationals during the conflict. Lawyer Assem al-Zoubi noted that many fathers have disappeared without paternity being legally established. This leaves children unable to register births or access basic rights, making the proposed legislative changes a vital step forward. ## Reintegrating Isolated Communities Beyond citizenship, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour is working to reconnect communities isolated from state institutions. Minister Kabawat stated that legal reforms alone are insufficient without improving access to essential services. The ministry is focusing on reintegrating these populations into government services, although comprehensive figures on the total number of affected children remain unavailable. ## Focus on Vulnerable Groups The government is addressing the status of children who lived in the Al-Hol camp in Hasakah province. Minister Kabawat stressed that security considerations must not override the fundamental rights and identities of these children. Additionally, the ministry is actively working to guarantee Kurdish rights as part of its broader administrative and legislative reform agenda. ## Future Implementation Challenges Experts emphasize that the proposed law must include clear, streamlined procedures to avoid lengthy delays or complications. Establishing equality in citizenship transmission represents a significant departure from 1969 legislation. Success will depend on the government's ability to provide technical support and ensure that registration processes remain accessible for all citizens regardless of their status. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.newarab.com/news/syria-moves-closer-citizenship-children-syrian-mothers — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._