As Syria transitions into a new chapter, access to civil and legal documentation, such as birth certificates, ID cards, and passports, remains essential for Syrians to claim their rights, access essential services, and begin to rebuild their lives. Yet in Northeast Syria (NES), years of conflict, shifting control, and the rise of parallel governance structures have created a fragmented documentation system. Many residents now hold documents issued by the Democratic Autonomous Administration of Northeast Syria (DAANES), which are not officially recognized by the Syrian government or the international community, complicating efforts to prove identity, civil status, and making legal claims increasingly difficult.
This briefing paper, based on joint research by the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) and the International Human Rights Clinic at Harvard Law School, explores the legal identity challenges facing residents in NES. Drawing on field surveys and case analysis, it outlines the barriers to obtaining documentation—ranging from security risks to high costs—and offers concrete recommendations for Syrian authorities, humanitarian actors, and the international community to support inclusive, rights-based documentation systems as part of Syria’s broader recovery.
