Trinidad and Tobago: Many Children Returned from Syria Detention Doing Well Trinidad and Tobago Should Urgently Repatriate all Remaining Nationals

Many children repatriated from detention camps for Islamic State (ISIS) suspects and their families in northeast Syria are successfully reintegrating in their home countries, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today. Trinidad and Tobago should act urgently to allow the return of an estimated 70 children and 25 women from Trinidad and Tobago who remain in the camps. The 63-page report, “‘My Son is Just Another Kid’: Experiences of Children Repatriated from Camps for ISIS Suspects and Their Families in Northeast Syria,” documents the experiences of approximately 100 children who have been repatriated or returned to France, Germany, Kazakhstan, the Netherlands, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and Uzbekistan between 2019 and 2022. Human Rights Watch found that despite years of detention in life-threatening conditions with insufficient water, fresh food, and health care, and little to no access to education, many of the children appear to be adjusting well and performing well in school. Many have reintegrated smoothly and enjoy a wide range of activities with their peers, including football, skating, cycling, dancing, crafts, and music.

“Children rescued from the horrors of the camps are doing well in school, making friends, and building new lives in their home countries,” said Jo Becker, children’s rights advocacy director at Human Rights Watch. “Despite enduring unimaginable suffering, many are reintegrating remarkably well.”

Read more Trinidad and Tobago: Bring Home Children, Women Held in Iraq | Human Rights Watch (hrw.org)