CANBERRA, Australia (MNTV) — Australia is being urged to adopt a more holistic and community-based approach to reintegrating women and children linked to ISIS after the recent return of four women and nine children from Syria, reports The Conversation.
According to researchers and policymakers studying global repatriation efforts, Australia already has experience in handling the return of citizens from Syrian detention camps, but the long-term success of reintegration will depend on how effectively communities, authorities and support services work together.
The latest group returned to Australia last week, with the Australian Federal Police indicating that some of the women may be referred to community reintegration and countering violent extremism programs.
Australia has previously repatriated 31 women and children from Syria, most with government assistance. Authorities say none of those returnees has since been linked to criminal activity.
Researchers studying repatriation efforts worldwide argue that the central issue is no longer whether Australia has the institutional capacity to manage such returns, but whether its reintegration strategy is designed to succeed.
Research conducted across 69 countries found that rehabilitation programs are often developed primarily for men and fail to address the experiences and needs of women linked to extremist groups.
Programs in countries including the United Kingdom, Nigeria, Kazakhstan and Kosovo have frequently focused on vocational training based on traditional gender roles, such as sewing and handicrafts. Critics say these initiatives often reflect stereotypes rather than tailored responses to individual circumstances or local economic realities.
Experts also warn that women associated with extremist organizations frequently face “double stigma”, condemnation for their links to violent groups and criticism for defying social expectations about women’s roles.
Women and children from ethnic and religious minority communities are often particularly vulnerable to social exclusion, with researchers noting that Islamophobia in some Western countries can complicate reintegration efforts.
Analysts say discrimination against Muslim women, including hostility toward wearing the hijab, can weaken the sense of belonging necessary for successful rehabilitation and reintegration.
Among the countries highlighted as a successful example is Kosovo, which repatriated more than 100 citizens from Syria in 2019.
Kosovo became the first country to establish a government department specifically dedicated to rehabilitating citizens returning from ISIS-controlled territory.
The department, operating under the Interior Ministry, provides returnees with medical and psychiatric support, counselling, housing assistance, social services, vocational training and legal aid.
Female religious leaders linked to the Islamic Council of Kosovo have also played a central role in supporting women returnees and engaging with local communities.
Researchers say one of Kosovo’s most notable strategies was its effort to reduce public stigma before returnees arrived. Authorities and civil society groups engaged communities directly to address safety concerns and explain the government’s approach.
Kosovar officials framed repatriation as both a humanitarian obligation and a matter of public safety, arguing that rehabilitation and monitoring were more effective than leaving citizens indefinitely in Syrian detention camps.
However, experts noted that some criticism remained over perceptions that public rhetoric occasionally downplayed the responsibility of women who joined or supported ISIS.
Australia’s current situation differs in some respects. Three of the four women who returned last week have reportedly been charged with serious crimes against humanity.
Even so, researchers argue that the broader lessons from Kosovo remain relevant, particularly for children who may now be separated from their mothers after years spent in Syrian camps.
Experts say trauma-informed care, education support and community acceptance will be critical for children returning to Australia, many of whom had no role in the decisions that brought them to Syria.
In the Australian state of Victoria, a rehabilitation initiative led by the Board of Imams Victoria in cooperation with authorities has been cited as a strong example of community-led engagement.
Researchers suggest that involving female religious leaders alongside community organizations could further strengthen support for women returnees by providing culturally informed counselling and religious guidance.
Several Australian women and children remain in Syrian detention camps, and researchers say Australia has both the resources and responsibility to provide those children with opportunities for recovery and reintegration that are unlikely to exist in the camps.