We Stand In
solidarity
Across Syria, Alawite women and young girls continue to face abduction, sexual violence, torture, forced displacement and intimidation carried out by extremist and terrorist groups operating in the chaos of war and instability. Behind statistics and headlines are human lives permanently marked by fear, trauma and silence.
We express our solidarity with all women and girls who have been subjected to these crimes and with the families who continue searching for justice, safety and accountability. No community should be targeted because of its identity, beliefs or background. The systematic use of violence against women during conflict is not only an attack on individuals — it is an attack on human dignity itself.
We also stand with journalists, human rights defenders, activists and independent organizations working to document abuses and give voice to survivors despite pressure, censorship and danger. Their work remains essential in preventing these crimes from being erased or forgotten.
Solidarity means refusing indifference. It means acknowledging suffering even when the world’s attention shifts elsewhere. It means defending the universal rights of women and children to live free from violence, fear and persecution.
We call on the international community, humanitarian organizations and human rights institutions to intensify efforts to protect vulnerable civilians, investigate crimes committed against women and minorities, and ensure that those responsible are held accountable under international law.
Silence should never become normality.
We Stand In
solidarity
The right to freedom of thought, conscience, and belief is a fundamental human right, recognized under international law and protected by democratic values. We stand in solidarity with Halil Karapaşaoğlu and all Turkish-Cypriot conscientious objectors who face prosecution and pressure for refusing compulsory military service. We believe that no one should be punished for choosing peace over arms.
As AVFRI, we support human rights, freedom of expression, and justice, and we echo the call for the recognition of conscientious objection in northern Cyprus while urging authorities to end the criminalization of those who act according to their conscience.
Supporting conscientious objectors is not only about defending individual freedoms, but also about building a more just, peaceful, and democratic society..