Rob Williams is the CEO of war child.
Four years after the military defeat of the Islamic State (ISIS), young women and children continue to be punished for the group’s monstrous crimes.
The Al-Hol detention camp in northeastern Syria is home to some 50,000 women and children who come from more than 40 countries and were once associated with ISIS. Many of the detainees at the camp arrived as children. Some went voluntarily, some were groomed, others were forced to join their husbands or brought to ISIS by their parents. But today, most of the camp’s current residents are young children born into the horror of war, exposed daily to violence and miserable conditions.
Faced with this reality, countries with citizens in Al-Hol, whether from America, Europe or Asia, have gradually allowed their repatriation, mostly to recover their lives and, where appropriate, to face justice, except few exceptions. And among the most notable countries refusing to undertake the humanitarian repatriation of families is the UK.
When viewed alongside steps taken by other countries, the UK government’s pretext of protecting Britain from potential security threats posed by returning women and children is inexplicable. Of the 25 British families in Al-Hol, the majority are young children. And for a government that has led global campaigns to end sexual violence in conflict and tackle human trafficking, the decision to leave British children to languish in a conflict zone is shocking.
Furthermore, bringing these families home would not only fulfill moral obligations, but also safeguard national and regional security.
Currently, public revulsion is growing in the UK. that’s driving a bell by civil society organizations —including War Child, Reprieve, and Human Rights Watch—as well as security experts and public figures, all demanding that the government take action. And while the ethical case for protecting children and those who inadvertently fell under the control of ISIS is clear, the legal and security arguments are just as compelling.
On the one hand, the detention of these families is arbitrary, illegal and contrary to the UK’s human rights obligations. No one in Al-Hol has yet been charged with a crime, as the families are being held solely for their suspected, though unproven, links to ISIS. And the continued reluctance to repatriate them due to this alleged association is totally unacceptable in the absence of due process.
To date, the UK has repatriated just 10 British orphans or unaccompanied children, and by prioritizing the return of certain categories of children, the government perpetuates harmful distinctions between those who deserve rights and those who do not. The UK is also failing to address the circumstances of British young adults who were exploited, manipulated, trafficked and coerced by ISIS, as well as those who were recruited as children.
The UK must do the right thing, for all British families in Al-Hol, and take the necessary steps to support their reintegration into society. Children deserve the chance to come home and rebuild their lives. And where there is a case to be answered by adults, the courts are more than capable of delivering justice.
Over the past year, there has been an increase in such repatriations, reflecting a growing international consensus on the urgency of the current situation. The UK’s refusal stands in stark contrast to the actions of the 38 other countries that have already returned most, if not all, of their citizens to Al-Hol. For example, countries like the United States have successfully repatriated families, recognizing both the security risks and the deplorable conditions in detention camps. And they have also expressed their willingness to help other states to facilitate returns and support reintegration.
The UK should learn from the success stories and take a similar approach. Careful preparation, formal risk management and collaboration with local authorities are essential to ensure the safety, security and reintegration of returnees, something the UK can do.
Children are among the most vulnerable victims in this dire situation, and conditions in these camps are rapidly deteriorating, with inadequate access to essentials such as food, water, shelter, and medical care. The United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child found that the current conditions “present an imminent risk of irreparable damage to the life of the children, their physical and mental integrity and their development,” and there is “an imminent risk of death.” So the organization recently recommended the United Kingdom “take effective and urgent measures to repatriate children who are citizens of the state party from the camps in the Syrian Arab Republic”.
It is also cause for great concern the separation of adolescent boys from their families. Perceived as potential security risks, many are arbitrarily detained with no prospect of release. In February alone, boys as young as 11 were forcibly separated from their families and transferred to prisons, where they are at greater risk of sexual abuse and have little or no contact with the outside world.
However, the UK has outsourced its responsibilities and has instead contributed significant funding to the construction of detention centres. But the fact is that the criminalization and detention of children without trial will do nothing to address the threat posed by armed groups and only serve to increase marginalization and resentment.
Furthermore, according to a public poll we conducted in April this year, 60 per cent of the British public surveyed said the UK government has a responsibility to bring families home.
The UK’s failure to repatriate British families detained in north-east Syria is a stain on its human rights record, as well as the country’s responsibility to protect all its citizens. Through inaction, the UK is not only undermining its position among allies, but also putting its national and regional security at risk.
Simply put, now is the time for justice and compassion to prevail over indifference and negligence.