“Syrian women are always told by their comrades that gender equity comes second after human rights and stopping of war; but without gender equity, there will be neither peace nor human rights.”
– Zaina Erhaim; Journalist, feminist, and communications consultant/trainer. [1]
Involving women in the peacemaking process is an absolute necessity, as they constitute over half of society in terms of numbers and the impact of their role in all fields. They have proven their role as breadwinners of their families, humanitarian primary responders, leaders, and peacebuilders. [1]
Therefore, Building the influence of women as peace actors and decision-makers is critical in working for a just future for Syria. Equality does not achieve justice for women only, but for society as a whole. The role of women in building and making peace should not be only formal, but diplomatic and in the field, specifically with peacekeepers. Gender equality is one of the means that can stop violence in societies and impose peace among people. Achieving equity is one of the Sustainable Development Goals for a better future for humanity. [3]
A quantitative analysis examining 156 peace agreements found that the participation of local women in peace negotiations increased the probability of cessation of violence within one year by 24.9 percent.
In the last two decades, we began to see an acceleration in the pace of the feminist movements in the Middle East, including at the Syrian level and the Syrian feminist political movement. [4]
As a result of the Syrian war, Syrian women have been affected by the conflict. Of those who need humanitarian aid, half are women and girls. Syrian women have higher rates of poverty than men, they face an increased risk of gender-based violence, and they shoulder the responsibility of caring for their children and other family members. During the Syrian war, women became the main breadwinners of their families. This is partially due to a large number of casualties among men during the war. It is noteworthy in this regard that women are responsible for about a third of families in Syria, and for about 40 to 50 percent of families in countries of asylum. These women strive to cover the basic costs of their families, and they bear enormous responsibilities.
In addition to the effects of war on women, such as gender-based violence, arrests and killings, targeting of civil activists and human rights defenders, asylum, displacement, and forced displacement. [2] [3]
The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a spike in violence against women in the midst of lockdowns and quarantine measures. It is reported that women constitute 70% of the workforce in the health sector, which makes them more vulnerable to infection and disease. [2]
All these difficulties did not prevent many women from playing their political and diplomatic roles, as well as in building peace and achieving justice. Rather, they proved their presence in the field, and in countries of expatriation and asylum. [3]
In addition to these challenges, Syrian women have advocated for their inclusion in the UN-led peace process. In 2000, the United Nations ratified Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace, and Security, and recommended that women comprise at least 30 percent of participants in peace talks in 2002.
The world organization released the Geneva I Communique which states, “Women must be fully present in all aspects of the transition.”
Amendments have also been made to the Law of Personal Status, increased participation in training and skills development activities, and an increase in women’s entrepreneurship in the country since the beginning of the conflict. However, the direct participation of women in high-level peace negotiations and the rate of women’s participation in political decision-making at the national and local levels remains disappointingly low.
On average, women constituted only 13 percent of negotiators, 6 percent of mediators, and 6 percent of signatories in major peace processes worldwide between 1992 and 2019. [4]
While during the August 2020 meeting of the Constitutional Committee, the United Nations-facilitated constituent assembly to adopt a new Constitution of Syria as part of the peace process, the lack of gender parity was clear. Only thirteen of the forty-five-member drafting committee were women. [4]
In view of the above, we find that the inclusion of Syrian women in the peace process and decision-making has made remarkable progress, but it is slow and unsatisfactory.
It requires greater moves by local and international institutions on the one hand, and demands by women’s parties on the other hand, in order to reach the reality that women’s participation in peacemaking is taken for granted in all conferences.
In our initiative, we seek to empower and support women and bridge the gender gap. Considering that women are peaceful in nature and constitute an essential part of achieving many human endeavors at all levels, we believe that encouraging and motivating women to participate actively in achieving peace is the duty of individuals, groups, and governments together.
Also read: Role of Education in Peacebuilding.
♀️ Uplifting Syrian Women Initiative aims at sustainable peace building in Syria through targeting women and providing them with free online courses, workshops, discussion sessions and trainings, with a view to achieving the goals of Gender Equality, Quality Education and Decent Work and Economic Growth, which all fall into the interest of society as a whole and serve the purpose of rebuilding it.
References:
[1] UN Women News
[4] Carnegie