A year ago, Syrians astonished the world by overcoming years of authoritarian rule—marking the first real chance in generations to reshape their country’sfuture after decades of conflict, unfathomable brutality, and profound human suffering.
Over the past year—and in the many years leading up to the fall of the Assad regime —our engagement with Syrians inside and outside the country has revealed remarkable courage. We have seen individuals and communities continuously step forward with determination despite immense hardship and uncertainty.
As we honor the resilience of the Syrian people, we must also remain clear-eyed about the significant challenges that continue to shape daily life. Syrians still carry the weight of a painful past even as they begin to navigate the early stages of a complex political transition.
Yet within this moment lies something truly remarkable: the chance to continue to rebuild fractured communities, and to forge a Syria in which every person can stand equal in dignity, opportunity, and rights.
Realizing this vision will require bold, sustained, and transformative steps. The aspirations that inspired Syrians’ peaceful call for change fourteen years ago remain as powerful today, and it is essential that the path ahead remains faithful to those aspirations.
Much more must be done to put the fate of the missing—and the rights of their families—at the center of our collective efforts, ensuring they finally receive the answers, support, and dignity they have long been denied. At the same time, Syrian refugees who wish to return home must be supported with concrete, practical assistance and welcomed back in a manner that fully upholds their dignity and rights.
The United Nations remains unwavering in its commitment to stand with the Syrian people through this next chapter. Together with the full support of the international community we can ensure that this moment of possibility becomes the foundation of a lasting peace and a sovereign, inclusive, and unified Syria—one that reflects the hopes of all its people and honors the sacrifices made along the way.
This work must be rooted in the principles of Security Council resolution 2254 (2015), as well as the commitments made by the Syrian authorities to their citizens, and reaffirmed by the Security Council in resolution 2799 (2025).