Syria

Syria’s nationality law is based on descent through the father. This is part of the legacy of French colonial rule. The CRC, UPR, and CEDAW have called on Syria to amend the Nationality Act and related gender discriminatory laws. The only circumstance in which Syrian mothers can confer nationality on their children is if the child was born in Syria and the father does not establish filiation. However, the realities of conflict induced displacement mean that many children are born outside the country and the father is often unavailable to register or recognize the child. In its 2017 report to the CRC, Syria indicated that it was reviewing legislation to amend the Nationality Act to allow mothers to pass down their nationality. In 2022, Syria again received recommendations from the UPR and CMW to amend its citizenship laws to enable Syrian women to pass on their citizenship, including to children born abroad.