Syria

During the Syrian civil war, non-state actors, including ISIS, issued their own birth certificates. The government of Syria does not recognize these certificates. Some parents destroy ISIS-issued documents to avoid questions about their loyalty. Entering a birth registered by a non-state actor into a Family Book issued by the Syrian government could invalidate the entire Book. In 2019, the CRC urged Syria to strengthen efforts to re-establish civil affairs services. Syria has made efforts to facilitate registration for children born in targeted areas and to displaced families. Syria received UPR recommendations in 2022 to simplify identity determination and civil documentation procedures. This would help to address the challenges to accessing civil documentation faced by Syrians affected by the conflict.