- Conference
- 2025 National Women's Conference
- Date
- 29 January 2025
- Decision
- Carried
As Global leaders and international communities celebrate the fall of Syria’s Assad regime in January 25, discussions have begun in relation to the return of approximately 5.5 million refugees.
In similar transitions such as Iran and more recently, Afghanistan, women’s rights have been endangered, and freedoms have been challenged.
We have often seen in both distant and recent history, that in such power transitions that women’s freedoms have been endangered, that is why we need to prioritize women’s rights and voices in Syria. Reports are being received from Syria (starting in Idlib) but now spreading to other major cities, the interpretation of Islamic law together with enforcement will undoubtedly impact women’s dress, mobility and public participation. For example, women must be accompanied by a male guardian to access public areas, confined to domestic roles to strict dress codes. The police can fine, shame or detain women who do not meet the criteria and should any women challenge, this can be severely punished. There are also reports of activists and aid workers facing harassment, arrest and intimidation.
After 13 years of civil war in Syria, the situation for the women of this country is very concerning.
If we go back to Iran after the 1979 revolution, many women lost hard fought for rights under Ayatollah Khomeini rule which implemented compulsory hijab laws and economic and political restrictions. Again, in 2014 with the rise of ISIS, Yazidi women faced enslavement and rape which became a weapon of war.
Very recently the 2021 the Taliban’s return to power led to bans for women both in terms of employment and education. Even though global discussions have been taking place there is little mention of the impact on women specifically let alone any advocacy for the retention of their rights, choice and voice. If the rights of these women are not advocated for, we will see the erasure of the rights and freedoms they have earned over the years. The future of Syria needs to include the voices of Syrian women. Syrian women need to have meaningful engagement and participation to shape the future of this country. Inclusivity of women is vital to the rebuilding of Syria – they were the backbone of families and communities during the 13-year civil war – as leaders and humanitarians showing both sacrifice and resilience.
There needs to be an urgency in terms of the focus and inclusion of women’s rights in the rebuilding of Syria rather than a backward misogynistic return to many decades before. Instead, we should be supporting women to advocate for building a more inclusive government and country, one that gives women and minorities equal rights and full citizenship and freedom.
Conference, this motion seeks the following:
1)We ask for the National women’s committee to raise the profile of this emerging situation and to add to their workplan
2)We ask for the National women’s committee to identify support any advocacy programmes (both nationally / globally) that we can align with and support the work that promotes the rights and freedoms of Syrian women.