Ceasefire Centre for Civilian Rights has submitted a report to the UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, Mr. Morris Tidball-Binz, in response to his call for input on documenting, investigating, and preventing the arbitrary deprivation of life of older persons worldwide.
Older persons (any person aged 65 or older) face unique and disproportionate risks in conflict settings, yet their deaths are chronically under-reported, under-investigated and under-prosecuted.
The submission draws together testimonies on nine documented cases collected by Ceasefire’s partners in Syria concerning the killing of older persons during sectarian violence in the Syrian coastal region and As-Suwayda in March and July 2025. It highlights patterns emerging from documented cases and explores how age-related vulnerabilities may have increased exposure to harm.
Key Findings:
- Killings of older persons occurred within a broader context of sectarian violence and possible identity-based targeting.
- Reduced mobility, chronic illness, disability, and reliance on care or medical support limited the ability of many older persons to flee or relocate during violence.
- Many incidents occurred in homes and other civilian spaces and were reportedly accompanied by looting, property destruction, intimidation, movement restrictions, and interference with the recovery and burial of victims.
- The documented cases suggest that older persons received no specific protection despite their age-related vulnerabilities and civilian status.
The submission forms part of a wider UN initiative examining patterns of potentially unlawful deaths of older persons worldwide. The Special Rapporteur will present his thematic report to the General Assembly in October 2026, examining patterns of potentially unlawful deaths of older persons and barriers to investigation and accountability, and seeking to inform best practice and strengthen protections for older persons’ right to life.
Read the full submission.
