Crimes Against Child Victims

How was your childhood?
It may come to mind, after this question, a series of rosy memories and fine days in which we had no clear idea of life and its difficulties, but what about the other side of this question?

What about those whose childhood memories were filled with violence? Who lived the hardships of life and were subjected to various forms of exploitation since their earliest babyhood? Labels and manifestations may differ, but the concept of violence against children is the same.

The Definition of Violence Against Children

It is a practice that is classified as a form of human rights violation and varies to include various manifestations of violence, harm, physical or mental abuse, neglect, maltreatment, and exploitation, including sexual abuse. It is against people under 18 years old.

When we ask about the perpetrators of these forms of violence, we will find the diversity of people involved to include the closest parties to the child, namely parents and family, in addition to other parties such as caregivers and peers, as well as some institutions. [1]

Types of Violence Against Children

1- Maltreatment and Violent Punishment: It may be natural for some families to consider violence against children to be a form of cruelty that is essential for better educational outcomes. The reason for adopting this method is either due to cultural circulation to which one or both parents were exposed during their childhood or due to the reasons related to the unstable psychological status of the parents, such as economic stress, drug or alcohol abuse, or other reasons such as the lower level of education.
This classification includes various forms of physical, sexual, and psychological violence in addition to neglect. This approach is not limited to parents but extends to include caregivers and other authority figures, as in schools and orphanages.

2- Sexual violence: includes non-consensual completed or attempted sexual contact and acts of a sexual nature not involving contact (such as voyeurism or sexual harassment). Due to the spread of social media and its reach into the hands of children, sexual predators have a new outlet to achieve these goals; as we note the recent spread of online exploitation. Another form of sexual violence is the acts of sex trafficking against children and use in prostitution where the child has no right to refuse or accept.

3- Emotional or psychological violence: It includes non-physical forms that are no less important than other forms, such as restricting the child’s movements, denigration, and ridicule, as well as threats, intimidation, and discrimination.

4- Intimate partner violence: involves physical, sexual, and emotional violence by an intimate partner. It commonly occurs against girls in child marriages and early/forced marriages. The same applies among romantically involved but unmarried adolescents; it is sometimes called “dating violence”.

5- Domination or bullying: unwanted aggressive behavior by another child or a group of children, and often takes place in schools and other settings where children gather, and online. [1]

The Causes of Violence Against Children

With the variety of parties causing violence, the causes also vary to include reasons within the family, such as lack of income, lack of emotional bonding between children and parents, poor parenting practices, and early or forced marriage.

As for societies in which violence is widespread, it has been observed that there are common characteristics among them, such as poverty, high population density, easy access to alcohol and firearms, high concentrations of gangs, and illicit drug dealing. [1]

The Impact of Violence Against Children

Childhood is the most important stage for the physical and psychological formation of human beings, and a Child’s upbringing in these unnatural conditions and an unsafe environment will have severe effects, including:

Impair brain and nervous system development, and their negative effects on the child’s cognitive development and results in educational and vocational under-achievement. As well as the negative effects on the endocrine, circulatory, musculoskeletal, reproductive, respiratory and immune systems
Negative coping and health-risk behaviors, as children exposed to violence, are substantially more likely to smoke, misuse alcohol and drugs, and engage in high-risk sexual behavior.
Negative effects on mental health, as these children are exposed to childhood trauma and have high rates of anxiety, depression, suicide, and many other mental problems.
Unintended pregnancies, induced abortions, gynecological problems, and sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV.
Severe injuries often occur in males because of physical fighting and assault.
Death as a result of manslaughter.
Children who have been subjected to violence may tend to commit personal violence towards themselves or others later, which creates a vicious cycle of violence that will inevitably affect the next generations. [1]

Statistics on Violence Against Children

– According to the World Health Organization, it is estimated that about one billion children worldwide have experienced emotional, physical, and/or sexual violence.

– The study conducted by the global partnership to end violence against children 2016, has shown that every five minutes a child dies from violence.

– UNICEF also indicated that one in 10 girls under the age of 20 has been subjected to forced sexual acts. The study also showed that nearly one in 10 children worldwide lives in a country affected by conflict. [3]

World Mental Health Day

International Celebration / USW

World Mental Health Day

Do you think that physical health is more important than mental health? Do you know how many people end their lives because of mental health disorders? Does World Mental Health Day really exist?

Some may think that health is limited to physical health alone, without mental health. Forgetting that we are human beings who first feel and then act, that is, we are creatures who rely heavily on our feelings and thoughts. Although physical wounds may heal and disappear, damage and psychological trauma accompany a person for a long time.

What is mental health?

Mental health is a basic and important human right. The World Health Organization defines mental health as a state of mental well-being that enables people to cope with the stresses of life, make their own decisions, learn and work well, and be active members of their community to which they can contribute. In addition, mental health does not mean only the absence of mental disorders. [1]

The matter is more complex than that, because the causes of diseases and disorders that affect mental health are numerous, including external factors such as social and economic conditions as well as genetic and biological factors. Mental health also greatly affects physical health. Therefore, a day was dedicated to reminding us of the importance of mental health around the world.

World Mental Health Day and Its goals

World Mental Health Day is celebrated every year on October 10. and this celebration was first started in 1992 at the initiative of the World Federation of Mental Health (WFMH). The World Health Organisation (WHO) has been organizing a global campaign for World Health Day annually since 2013. The United Nations organizes activities and events during the month of October to promote the importance of mental health. The theme of this year’s campaign is “Make mental health a global priority for everyone”. [2]

The theme in 2021 was “Mental Health in an Unequal World”, and in 2020 was “Mental Health for All. Greater Investment – Greater Reach. Everyone, Everywhere”. [2]

Among the objectives of this day

First, to spread awareness about mental health globally, in addition to mobilizing and increasing efforts to support individuals exposed to mental health problems.
Second, to create an opportunity for doctors and mental health specialists to hold together and work to improve the services provided in this field.
Third, Work to open up and talk about mental health and break the surrounding stigma. [3]

Important facts and figures

– Close to one billion people suffer from some form of mental health disorder.

– More than 75% of people with mental illness receive no treatment for their condition at all in low- and middle-income countries.

– In general, countries spend on average only 2% of their health budget on mental health.

– Suicide is the second leading cause of death for individuals between the ages of 15 and 29; every 40 seconds, an individual ends his life (that is, 800,000 people annually).

– Almost half of psychological problems begin by age 14, but most of them are not detected or treated most of the time. [4]

Mental health and COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused problems in many ways and created a major crisis for mental health; as it multiplied stress and depression and undermined the mental health of millions. Estimates put the rise in both anxiety and depressive disorders at more than 25% during the first year of the pandemic. The pandemic was accompanied by the disruption of mental health services, which exacerbated these cases. [3]

The Role of the World Health Organization in Mental Health

The World Health Organization launched the “Comprehensive Mental Health Action Plan 2013-2030”, which aims to improve mental health by strengthening effective leadership and governance and providing comprehensive and integrated community-based care.

WHO also released the “Global Report on Mental Health: Transforming Mental Health for All”. Which calls on all countries to accelerate the implementation of the Action Plan. According to the report, all countries can make great progress in improving the mental health of their populations by focusing on 3 “transformation paths”:

First, deepen the value given to mental health by individuals, communities, and governments.
Second, develop and improve the physical, social, and economic characteristics of environments, such as homes, schools, and even the local community.
Third, strengthen mental health care. So that the full spectrum of mental health needs is met through a community-based network of accessible, affordable, and quality services and supports. [1]

Steps to take care of and maintain mental health

In addition to the attempts of organizations and governments to improve the available health care services, the individual, during his life and daily routine, can also strive to maintain his mental health. Some of these steps are:

1- Keep physically active: Doing any kind of exercise has many physical benefits in addition to improving your mood.

2- Have a balanced and healthy diet: such as eating fruits, vegetables, nuts, and many others. In addition to drinking adequate amounts of water.

3- Manage Stress: Persistent exposure to stress without any solution is very harmful to mental health. So, the problem should not be ignored and should be confronted as much as possible. For example: Take a short break when feeling stressed from school or work. Break the routine and do a new activity on the weekend.

4- Self-acceptance and positive thinking: Avoid comparing yourself to others, we are all different and special in our own way. Strive to build a good relationship with yourself and practice self-love.

5- Learn a new skill. Learning new skills gives self-confidence and creates a sense of accomplishment. [5]

6- Do things you are good at taking time to do something you love, no matter what promotes mental health.

In conclusion, we would like to remind you that there is no health without mental health. Public health is harmony between physical and mental health together. Therefore, we believe that protecting and maintaining mental health is very important. In our initiative, we seek to build a safe space for everyone in need, especially Syrian women, by providing psychological support and guidance. As well as empowering women and providing services that allow them to improve and develop, as this will positively affect their mental health. We also dedicate an article on women’s mental health every month; to raise awareness about important topics, such as depression associated with menopause.

For everyone with mental health issues. No matter if they are big or small. We would like to tell you that you are NOT alone, we are ALL here with you.

A Woman of History: Jihan al-Mosli

Woman of history / USW

A Woman of History: Jihan al-Mosli

Jihan al-Mosli, the rebel parliamentarian as the journalist Ibtisam Bousaad called her [1], challenged customs and traditions as a Syrian woman, and practiced educational, political, and social work and practiced law with a high degree of competence and a sense of responsibility. Jihan al-Mosli is considered one of the first women to enter the Syrian parliament in order to amend personal status laws and demand women’s rights. Jihan’s biography was full of struggle in order to enhance the education and the rights of women and children, especially the rights of working women.

The presence of Jihan in the history of Syria is what drives us towards the hope of achieving radical access for women to the political world, which makes us believe that the role of women remains active, no matter how simple their participation is.

Jihan al-Mosli’s biography

Jihan al-Mosli was born in 1908 in a Damascene house in the Al-Midan neighborhood. Jihan was the sixth child in the house after an older sister and four brothers. Her mother died when she was three years old. She received great care and attention for her high ability to memorize passages from the Quran despite her young age.

Later she was sent to a local girls’ primary school. Jihan received her baccalaureate degree from the Teachers Training College, then she moved to the Higher Teachers College and obtained the Higher Teachers’ House Certificate. She worked as a teacher and then became headmistress of middle and secondary schools for girls. [2].

Jihan Al-Mosli’s Achievements

It is clear that her work as a school headmistress is what made her seize an opportunity to achieve her educational and patriotic mission, and to install the ideas of women’s liberation in a language that is firmly rooted in the minds of her students.

Jihan al-Mosli participated in a women’s demonstration in 1928 to support the national bloc demanding women’s rights to stand for elections. She chaired the Cultural Symposium Society in 1941. [3]

In 1944 she became secretary of Women’s Associations. Three years later she earned a law degree

In 1960, Jihan was appointed to the National Assembly of the United Arab Republic alongside Widad Haroun.

However, the first women’s access to a parliament in Syria was during the period of Syrian-Egyptian unity (1958 to 1961), the National Assembly comprised a total of 600 members, 200 of whom were from the northern region (Syria) and 400 members from the southern region (Egypt). For the first time in the history of Syria, women entered the legislative councils, as there were two women representatives of the Syrian country, Jihan al-Mosli and Widad Haroun. [4]

Jihan has written many books on law, the most important of which are: (Bankruptcy in Law), (and Public International Rights). [5]

The most important inputs of Jihan AL-Mosli in the Constitution

The participation of Jihan AL-Mosli in many issues is clear, most notably her membership in the Preparatory Committee for the Drafting of the Constitution, where we found that in the twelfth session on Tuesday, February 7, 1961, the Preparatory Committee for the drafting of constitution was elected from 90 members, and the name of Jihan al-Mosli appeared in the list of candidates for membership in the Committee Preparatory work for drafting the constitution (53 members from Syria). Looking at her inputs, it is clear that she followed up on family and child issues, and demanded the rights of working women in the Northern Territory. [6]

In the thirteenth session on February 8, 1961, the National Assembly convened and headed by Anwar AL-Sadat, and the secretaries were Muhammad Hamid Mahmoud and Muhammad Taha Haddad. Jihan AL-Mosli submitted the following question to the Central Minister of Social Affairs and Labor Hussein Mahmoud Al-Shafei,” what the steps have been taken by the ministry to implement the Paragraph (a) of Article VI of the decisions of the General Conference of the National Union of the Republic (the chapter on women’s activity); related to the expansion of the establishment of nurseries in neighborhoods where working mothers abound in relation to women’s associations and in factories? [6]

The interventions of Jihan Mousalli were also in the field of education. At the seventh session on April 26, 1961, she presented a proposal “with a desire to take the necessary measures not to delay the printing of textbooks and to take into account that they were not modified before the lapse of three years,” and it was referred to the Education Affairs Committee. [6]

In addition, the issues of female teachers’ rights were also at the heart of Jihan al-Mosli’s interventions. At the 14th session, May 15, 1961, she submitted a question to the Central Minister of Education about giving female teachers and school employees the opportunity to work half-time with half-salary, in the presence of the Deputy of Education Central Minister Muhammad Ali Hafez. [6]

By reviewing and documenting the interventions of Jihan al-Mosli, we can conclude that she was presenting proposals calling for the unification of laws between the two regions. In addition to questions that revolve around education, women’s and children’s rights, and the rights of male and female teachers, especially the rights of working women in the Northern Territory.

Syrian women have always had the ability to bring about change in many areas, even in politics and the constitution. As the role of Jihan al-Mosli had a great impact on education and the advancement of women’s rights. We, at Uplifting Syrian Women, always strive to highlight the role of women in Syrian history and the role of women in the advancement of society.

Phobia- Causes and Types

Psychological Health / USW

Phobia- Causes and Types

Did you know that there are people who are afraid of sleeping or being inside any house?
This is what is known as phobia, and phobia is considered one of the most common mental illnesses, but it is also the most curable. Phobia differs from the normal state of fear in that fear is the natural response to danger and is rational, while a person who suffers from a phobia has either an unjustified or excessive fear of a particular thing.

Let’s learn about the causes of phobias, their symptoms, the most famous types, and treatment options.

Concept of phobia

A phobia is a persistent, excessive, irrational fear. A person who suffers from a phobia feels a deep sense of dread or panic when encountering the source of fear, which may be a person, situation, animal, or activity. People with phobias often realize that the cause of their fear is irrational or realistic, but they are unable to do anything about it and their fears control them. The person with a phobia usually tries to avoid the thing that triggers the fear or endures it with great anxiety and distress.

A phobia is a type of anxiety disorder, but it differs from generalized anxiety disorder in that it is usually connected to something specific. The effect of a phobia can range from anxiety and annoyance to affecting personal relationships, work, and studies, depending on the fear and severity of the condition. Therefore, people with these phobias may need to alter their lives drastically in order to move away from the source of their fear, and those around them must understand these fears and support them. [1] [2]

Causes of phobia

A phobia often appears in the early stages of childhood, usually between the ages of 5 and 10 years, but it can appear at any time in an adult’s life. There is no clear reason for the start of phobia in people, but there are many factors that may contribute to the emergence and development of this condition, including:

Past accidents or trauma:
Some accidents in our lives, especially in young childhood, may have a lifelong impact. For example, if you were injured by a dog some years ago, you might develop a phobia of dogs.
Learned responses from infancy:
A phobia may develop from factors in your childhood environment, as the child can learn to respond to a certain thing from his parents or older siblings.
For example, if the child’s parents are very worried or anxious, this can create a state of constant anxiety in the child, which may later develop into a phobia. The child might develop the same specific phobia as a parent or older sibling. If they have a severe reaction to something they fear, this might influence the child to feel the same way.
Experiencing long-term stress:
Stress can cause feelings of anxiety and depression, which reduce a person’s ability to adapt to certain situations. This may lead to more fear or anxiety about being in similar situations again. Over a long period, this condition can develop into a phobia.
Genetic factors:
Research has shown that some people are more likely to develop phobias than others. [3]
If you suffer from a phobia or a phobia, you may feel comfortable knowing the reason for the development of this fear and working to solve it, but do not put too much pressure on yourself to find a clear cause. Consult a psychiatrist for help.

Symptoms of a phobia

Symptoms of phobia vary between physical and psychological symptoms, and in both cases, these symptoms can appear with different severity in people. For example, a person suffering from arachnophobia can range in severity from not being able to be near a spider to even be unable to look at a picture of a spider.

Physical symptoms:

In the most extreme cases, a person suffering from a phobia can have a panic attack, or may suffer from less severe symptoms such as sweating, trembling, shortness of breath, dizziness, feeling of suffocation, rapid heartbeat, and many others.

Psychological symptoms:

These include fear of losing control, fear of fainting, persistent feelings of dread, fear of death, and a constant feeling of anxiety. [4]

The most common types of phobia

Some phobias are very specific and limited. For example, a person may only fear cats (ailurophobia). In this case, the person lives relatively free of anxiety by avoiding the thing he fears. Other phobias cause a problem in a variety of places or situations. For example, symptoms of acrophobia can appear by looking out of an office building window or driving over a high bridge. In these cases, a person with a phobia may have to change many of their daily habits and activities to avoid the source of their anxiety.

There are three main types of phobia:

Specific phobia (minor phobia):
This is the most common type in which people fear certain animals, people, or situations such as flying on a plane.
Social phobia (or what is known as social anxiety phobia):
People with social anxiety disorder fear social situations in which they may be humiliated, embarrassed, or judged by others. They become especially anxious when unfamiliar people are around.
For more information, you can read this article about social anxiety phobia.
phobia of emptiness:
It is the fear of being in public places where it is difficult and embarrassing to go out suddenly. [2]

Among the strangest types of phobia is fear of sleep, fear of showering, fear of workplaces, and many others.

Treatment options

Many people do not need treatment for their phobia, as it is enough for them to avoid the source of fear, but in severe cases or in the case of a phobia that cannot be avoided, such as a phobia of communicating with others or a phobia of riding a plane or a car, it is recommended to consult a specialist to treat this fear.

Most types of phobias are treatable, and although there is no one guaranteed treatment for all cases, there are some options that usually help those who suffer from this state of fear, including the following:

Self-help methods:

People who suffer from phobias can help themselves without consulting a specialist through several methods, including changing their lifestyle, talking about their fears, or joining a support group.

pharmaceutical:

It is not usually recommended to resort to medications because of their side effects, but it is possible, if the doctor prescribes them, to resort to them, including sedatives and antidepressants.

Follow up with a specialist:

It is the most effective method and does not have any side effects. In particular, cognitive behavioral therapy has been found to be highly effective in treating phobias. Cognitive behavioral therapy is a type of counseling that can help solve and manage problems by changing the way you think or act. A type of cognitive-behavioral therapy often used to treat mild phobias is gradual exposure to the source of the fear, so one feels less anxious about it over time. This is known as desensitization or exposure therapy. [5]

If you feel that your phobia is getting in the way of your life or affecting it in any way, we recommend that you consider one of the treatment options.

Whatever phobia you have, reasonable or not, you should not feel ashamed and seek help without hesitation. We at Uplifting Syrian Women are trying to raise awareness of mental health problems to increase knowledge and spread a culture of acceptance.

International Day of Non-Violence

International Celebration / USW

International Day of Non-Violence

“Non-violence is the greatest force at the disposal of mankind. It is mightier than the mightiest weapon of destruction devised by the ingenuity of man”.

– Mahatma Gandhi. [2]

A man by his very nature resorts to violence only when he feels fear, and he believes that life is sacred, and there is not enough reason to take it away. The proof of this is that you will never witness a happy, balanced human being beating another person. But life on this planet has undergone a lot of changes and developments, both positive and negative.

Because a person dreams of healthy living, but whenever he is reassured, leaving his weapon, he finds that war has broken out again. He saw himself living in a state of fear again, afraid for himself and his loved ones from the flames of war, and could not find the solution and the way to survive except by fighting and resorting to violence.

History is full of violence and stories whose victims were more than the beneficiaries, and we realize that the stories of history repeat themselves and the wheel of time turns, why then do we humans not strive to hold on to our humanity and look for another way, perhaps nonviolence?

And as Mahatma Gandhi once said, ” There are many causes I would die for. There is not a single cause I would kill for”. [1]

What is the story behind the International Day of non-violence?

October 2 of each year is considered the International Day of non-violence, in accordance with the resolution of the UN General Assembly in 2007. [2]

This day was chosen because it marks the anniversary of the birth of Mahatma Gandhi, (the leader of the Indian independence movement and the pioneer of the philosophy and strategy of nonviolence.

The principle of nonviolence – as its name indicates – rejects the use of physical violence to achieve social or political change. [2]

Therefore, the UN General Assembly considered that the International Day of non-violence is the best way to spread the message of non-violence, and to educate the public and the people of the world about its principles and the method of its implementation. That’s because reality tells us that we have reached the limit of excessive use of violence in conflict resolution.

And to emphasize the common desire to secure a culture of peace, tolerance, understanding, and non-violence, through the use of peace as a tool.
When we all hear the term nonviolence, it comes to our minds that it is synonymous with peace, but it carries the meaning of nonviolent resistance, allowing a person to obtain his rights and fight for his future to resist an authoritarian decision or a dictatorial regime.

In other words, nonviolence does not mean avoiding conflict and confrontation, but rather responding to the issue effectively, and avoiding physical violence, as Molham says on the International Day of nonviolence: ” I can’t teach you Violence because I don’t believe in it. I can only teach you not to bow your head in front of anyone even at the cost of your life”. [1]

Forms of nonviolent resistance: protest and persuasion, including marches and sit-ins. There is also a lack of cooperation and non-violent intervention such as blockades. [2]

How to celebrate the International Day of non-violence?

UN Secretary-General António Guterres said: “Hatred, division, and conflict have had their day. It is time to usher in a new era of peace, trust, and tolerance. On this International Day of Non-Violence – Gandhi’s birthday – let’s heed his message of peace, and commit to building a better future for all”. [3]

The dream of a man in any part of the Earth is to live a decent life, this is something that we agree on, no matter how many and varied our beliefs, the ideas we believe in and the doctrines we follow.

We all dream of a secure future, in fact, all our dreams depend on stability and peace because war is not a place for creativity but a hotbed of survival, your most important achievement of the day becomes that you are alive.

Mahatma Gandhi raised the slogan “Just Means lead to just ends” [2], so by celebrating nonviolence and his birthday, we should spread awareness about his principle.

Through campaigns, rallies, and seminars we hold to illuminate the big and small events. From the use of weapons to achieve ends in wars and on the streets, to the dangers of the illicit trade in small arms. Spreading the beliefs and methods of peace leader Mahatma Gandhi.

In every war, we find a lot of collateral losses, both human and material. And also in every war, we see that the stories of these people do not see the light, we can shed light on the stories of these people, we talk about their lives and families who lost them due to violence. We strive by all means so that their lives are not lost and their stories are not repeated.

A woman’s place in this day

A woman in every war loses, whether she loses her son or husband, or takes on additional responsibilities that should not fall on her shoulders. As well as in peacetime, women fall victim to other forms of violence, domestic, in the workplace, and even on the street.

During the March of women’s resistance to all other forms of violence, we find that she set her sights on peace. She also used it as a tool, she did not raise a weapon in the man’s face, but went out on marches and fought in court, and used the judiciary to get her rights.

The woman is not trying to take over the world, just trying to get her right, and not to lose too much for no logical reason. The task of trying to reach a world that follows the principle of nonviolence is a difficult but not impossible task. Its application requires all members of society, regardless of gender, religion, and belief, to keep it as their goal.

In fact, the International Day of nonviolence carries with it a lot of dreams. Because those who follow the doctrine of nonviolence can confidently see the rights of others and respect their freedoms.

This is all we need to live harmoniously and cooperatively in one society that respects women and men, and honors children and the elderly. Everyone has his right and freedom, and peace is what drives our societies.

At the uplifting Syrian Woman initiative, we see that nonviolence and the doctrine of leader Mahatma Gandhi coincide with our goals, and unite with the voices we seek to raise. Through nonviolence, we preserve the dignity of women in particular and of human beings in general. We remind you that during the covid-19 pandemic, all communities faced the same difficulties, and we managed to overcome most of them with cooperation.

Breast Cancer and World Breast Cancer Awareness Month- Pink October

International Celebration / USW

Breast Cancer and World Breast Cancer Awareness Month- Pink October

Breast cancer is one of the most common and important cancers in the world, so the month of October was devoted to raising awareness about it.
Pink October, Awareness Month or the Pink Month, is the month agreed upon globally to carry out wide campaigns aimed at raising awareness of breast cancer and ways to prevent it to limit its incidence and thus reduce the number of deaths resulting from it.

The activities of this International Breast Cancer Awareness Month have been going on since 1985 at the request and suggestion of the American Cancer Society and an international pharmaceutical company. Most countries, media, and cancer survivors around the world celebrate this occasion. [1]

It is very important to be highly aware of our body and to know any change that may occur to any of its organs, and the breast is an especially important organ in the female body and may be exposed to what is considered to be of the most dangerous diseases. Hence the importance of the Pink October Campaign is aimed at reducing the number of cases and deaths as much as possible, because life is worth it, and our bodies deserve care and attention.

Breast Cancer And Its Most Common Types

Worldwide, breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed life-threatening cancer in women and is the leading cause of cancer death among women. Cancer is basically a group of diseases causing cells in the body to change and proliferate in an unorganized manner. [2]

There are different kinds of breast cancer depending on which cells of the breast tissue show malignancy. Breast cancer can begin in any part of the breast; lobules, ducts, or connective tissue. It can also spread outside the breast through blood and lymph vessels as metastases. [2]

Invasive ductal carcinoma and invasive lobular carcinoma are the most common types of breast cancer.

The Most Important Global Events That Took Place During Breast Cancer Awareness Month

This month, this disease is being highlighted through several educational conferences and seminars around the world. In addition to an intensive media campaign to motivate women and encourage them to go to the screening centers scattered in all regions. [1]

Also, during this month, sports races such as running, walking, and bike races are held to raise donations to help women suffering from this disease. Many famous landmarks around the world are also illuminated with pink lighting to visually remind us of breast cancer. In addition, “Male Breast Cancer Awareness Week” is being held to raise awareness of breast cancer in men. [1]

There are also many commercial goods that are sold to remind and raise awareness of the matter, such as awareness bracelets, pens, candy, blades, clothes, jewelry, candles, and coffee mugs.

Why Is Early Detection of Breast Cancer Better?

Because when it is done, it will facilitate the detection of the disease in its early stages, access to treatment, increase the cure rate to 95% and reduce the mortality rate to 30%. [2]

Therefore, make awareness culture and hurry to go and get checked in the screening centers scattered in all regions, because your health matters to us and because staying in your best shape are the goal of awareness.

Role and Opinion of Uplifting Syrian Women in Pink October

The Uplifting Syrian Women Initiative is holding an awareness campaign throughout the month of October, its goal during this month is to increase the awareness of women in general and Syrian women in particular about the need to go periodically to check up on their health and, if needed, get rapid treatment for breast cancer in its early stages. Believing in the importance of health and the need to obtain appropriate health care and attention for all parts of the body in general and the breast in particular during this month.

References:

[1] Feedo

[2] MOH

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International Day of Translation

International Celebration / USW

International Day of Translation

Translation is not only a way of communication but rather a creative cultural and artistic activity that is essential in the fields of science, literature, and speeches; do you think that rapprochement between peoples and relocation of their own outputs across continents would have been possible without translation?

Through translation, we are actually transcending borders and uniting all humanity. Here comes the idea of the International Day of Translation, which intends to celebrate language specialists, who play an important role in bringing countries closer together, contributing to their development, and promoting global peace and safety.

In recognition of the importance of translation, the International Federation of Translation (founded in 1953) launched the idea of celebrating “The International Day of Translation” in 1991, as an occasion for showing cooperation between translators all around the world and to promote the importance of translation and the work of translators. Then the United Nations General Assembly responded to this proposal and acknowledged and celebrated this day for the first time on the 30th of September, 2017. [2]

Why On September 30th?

On the 30th of September, the feast of Saint Jerome, the translator of the Bible, who is considered the patron saint of translators, is celebrated.

He was a priest from northeastern Italy, he tried to translate most of the Bible into Latin from the Greek manuscripts of the New Testament. He also translated parts of the Hebrew Bible into Greek. His mother tongue was Illyrian, he learned Latin at school in addition to being fluent in Greek and Hebrew. Jerome died near Bethlehem on the 30th of September, 420 AD.

How Is This Day Celebrated?

Every year since 2005, The United Nations invites all its employees, accredited Permanent Missions staff, and students from selected partner universities to compete in the Saint Jerome Translation Competition at the UN, a competition that rewards the best translations in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, Spanish and German. It aims to celebrate Multilingualism and highlights the important role of translators and other linguistic specialists in multilateral diplomacy. [1]

Multilingualism; Importance and Necessity

Humans speak about 7 thousand languages. With their complex reflection on identity, communication, social integration, education and development. It is of strategic importance for people and the entire world. It plays a vital role in development, in ensuring cultural diversity and intercultural conversations, as well as in building inclusive knowledge societies, preserving the cultural legacy and achieving the political desire to apply the benefits of science and technology for Sustainable Development.

Multilingualism is considered an essential factor in harmonious communication between nations, and the United Nations General Assembly considers it a fundamental value of the Organization. By promoting tolerance, multilingualism ensures effective and increased participation of all in the work of the Organization, as well as increased effectiveness, better performance, and improved transparency. [3]

Translation at the United Nations

The United Nations is one of the world’s largest employers of language professionals. Several hundreds of language employees work in the United Nations offices in New York, Geneva, Vienna, and Nairobi, or in the UN regional commissions in Addis Ababa, Bangkok, Beirut, Geneva, and Santiago. Translators are a type of language professional working for the United Nations.

UN language specialists include Editorial and desktop publishing assistants, Editors, Interpreters, Précis-writers, Production editors and desktop publishers, Translators, and Verbatim reporters. [1]

Translation Under the Light of Artificial Intelligence

In the age of communication technology, the profession of translators is currently in fierce competition with machines and artificial intelligence. Several years ago, Google announced the launch of the Neural Machine Translation System (GNMT), stressing that through this technology machine translations would be indistinguishable from human translations, growing the belief that this ancient profession is on the way to extinction at the hands of machines, however, the promises of programmers to remove language barriers and cancel the need for translators does not seem to be have been fulfilled.

Decades ago – when the first computer-based machine translation process was invented- translators, who work in various fields including politics, commerce, media, tourism, and even government departments, were still indispensable. It is increasingly believed that machine translation will serve as an auxiliary tool for human translators, and not as a pure substitute for them. [3]

Multilingualism – as we mentioned earlier – is one of the basics of our time and the world in which we live. In the era of globalization, information moves from one place to another and from one country to another at the speed of lightning, and so one of the pivotal departments at our initiative, Uplifting Syrian Women, is the translation team, which translates every article and post on our platforms.

We want to thank our translation team for their great efforts and wish all its members continued brilliance and success on their special day. It is worth noting that among the most important educational courses we provide are the conversation and English language courses. To find out more, check out our social media platforms or visit our website.

International Day of Peace

International Celebration, Peacebuilding / USW

International Day of Peace

Will the “International Day of Peace” turn into a way of life that we live, and this would turn into a “utopia”?

“When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace.”
– Jimi Hendrix. [1]

Have you heard of the human dream of a “utopia”? Utopia is the “Perfect State” where there is no war, conflict, or racism.
All you can see is love, cooperation, and brotherhood. Utopia was and remains the dream of all fighters, and those who call for building a world of peace. In fact, it is the dream of every human being, humanity has found its way to his soul.

What is the International Day of Peace?

It started in 1981 with the aim of “celebrating and strengthening the ideals of peace among all nations and peoples.” Two decades later, the General Assembly designated September 21 as the date to celebrate the occasion annually as “the Day of cease-fire and non-violence through Education, Public Awareness and cooperation to achieve a cease-fire worldwide” [2]

As a result of the development of societies, their problems have developed. The term “peace” no longer represents the antithesis of war only, and calls for peace are no longer based entirely on laying down arms and stopping the war. The term peace has been accompanied by a state of lack of tension, racism, and persecution, a state in which justice prevails between races, religions, and genders. We, as human beings and as a whole, stay away from violence, killing, and discrimination.

So the theme for 2022 is “End Racism, Build Peace.” [2]

The more the concept of peace expands and its pillars increase, the more people feel that it is a myth told to children so that hope remains within them, and they will never be able to obtain it. But in return, the rush towards it and the effort to achieve it has increased, to dedicate it to the next generation in order to preserve it. In fact, the task of peace is difficult task, but it is not impossible.

What are the objectives of the International Day of Peace?

As its title tells us, the International Day of Peace aimed at calling on all warring parties to lay down their weapons, by observing 24 hours of non-violence and working for harmony. [3] For this reason and to emphasize the importance of conflict resolution and reduction, we published some conflict resolution techniques in a post in the first week of the campaign.

Although the issues of peace, its goals, and requirements have multiplied, the culture of peace has remained the culture of dialogue and prevention, as the peace we seek is to keep away from hate speech, racism, and persecution. These are cultures that will not be overcome without awareness. There is an urgent need to reject models planted in our subconscious, depend on the conscious mind and logic and work towards accepting others for who they are, and respect their freedom and customs.

It is not an easy task to reject the implanted ideas that have accompanied societies for hundreds of years and begin to create new ones, but this is what we must do to create and nurture a culture of peace.

Therefore, the International Day of Peace aims to spread love and address the root causes of problems, support education – the only way to inculcate the right way of thinking – promote freedom of expression, foster intercultural dialogue, respect human rights and cultural diversity and promote scientific cooperation. [4]

Just as one of the endeavors of the International Day of Peace is to support education; the right education helps to spread peace. Therefore, we launched a workshop on programs concerned with peace as well as an article on the role of education in building peace. We believe that integrating peace with educational methods and curricula will make a positive global difference if applied in the right way.

Women’s and Day of Peace

A woman, this beautiful, gentle creature, who throughout history has been a symbol of love, tenderness, and kindness, needs love and stability to thrive. For this reason and because we are fully confident in the importance of women in spreading peace, we have dedicated an article that talks about the role of Syrian women in building peace.

Since time immemorial, women have been striving for peace and walking towards it through all the calls that the woman made and sometimes expressed with their tears for the purpose of peace. The justice we demand is to reject oppression and discrimination between men and women, our right to a decent life without family or societal violence, and the women to be treated as human beings without fearing harassment, rape, and trafficking.

Women have never demanded more than their right to live in a society in peace, to walk on the roads without fear, and to work in a place that respects them and protects their rights.

Gender-based violence is one of the forms of violence that the International Day of Peace seeks to eradicate. No doubt that the International Day of Peace is a reminder of the war of all humanity against violence and hatred, because the war for peace is a set of battles on many fronts, and it is a war that continues and will not stop until we achieve the utopia that we dream of.

Peace and development

It is not surprising when we say that a secure society is one that is ready to thrive because peace gives people the opportunity to think about something else. Instead of looking for protection and stability. We conducted a discussion session focusing on the relationship between peace and development and their interrelationship in several aspects.

We can also see throughout history the impact of peace and stability on societies. The peoples, who began to write the history of civilization, are the ones that managed to settle next to the rivers, secured a source of livelihood close to their homes, and left the nomadic life

The only goal of human beings is to walk towards the future. You will not achieve your desire while you are fighting for your life or in order to achieve respect for your life, your gender, your choices, to have your voice heard, and to be seen only as a human being and not like anything else.

“Choose Peace” Campaign

Through the Uplifting Syrian Women initiative, we presented the peace campaign, under the title Choose Peace, and our message through that campaign was “To reach peace, teach peace”, as we believe that spreading a culture of peace begins with each one of us. Everyone who lives in peace will automatically invite and inspire those around them to live in peace.

We started our campaign on the 1st of September. Our goals were clear through them, and we hope that if we do not achieve them, we will push our convoy one step further in order to achieve them. It was divided into three weeks, each week with a specific axis:

The first week focused on problems facing peacebuilding (Cyber-bullying).
The second week focused on the importance of education in building peace.
The third week had two main axes; the role of development in building peace and the importance of women – especially Syrian women – in building peace.

We hope that the “Choose Peace” campaign helped you start your own journey of spreading peace. This campaign is not the first and it will not be the last. We will not stop until we build and spread peace in Syria and in the whole world. So let’s walk together on the road, let’s try to spread love, joy, and peace together. Let us try to deter violence and eradicate injustice, poverty, and hate.

The security and peace of the world belong to us. Violating the rights of women and children in another country is a violation of our rights. Famine and humanitarian crises are devastating for all. How long will we pretend that these issues do not affect us directly?

Let’s join hands and get started now. Leave greed, indecision, and fear, and let us now begin the task of spreading peace and all that is beautiful and full of good to all mankind.

The Uplifting Syrian Women Initiative is a safe space that preserves the right to freedom of expression and treats with respect. We hope to be a station on humanity’s path toward peace, to broadcast to you the screams and tears of the women who preceded us in this cause, and that their sacrifices will not be in vain.

🌿 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] 7ekam

[2] UN

[3] UN

[4] Unesco

International Day of Peace Read More »

Success Story: Razan Ismail

Success Story / USW

Success Story: Razan Ismail

“A positive impact on the lives of others – even if it is only one person – is enough to know the path and persist it”.

The heroine of our story is a Syrian young woman, who was affected by the situation of the Syrian community in Spain in general, and the lack of interest in this component of Spanish society, especially women. She noted the challenges faced by her compatriots and that their struggle for survival is still going on.

She noted the challenges faced by her compatriots and that their struggle for survival is still going on. This stirred the entrepreneurial spirit within her, translating this into practice by founding Kudwa organization to be an example for her generation in turning challenges into achievements.

Who is Razan?

Razan Ismail is a Syrian resident in Barcelona, Spain. Founder of Kudwa organization, a Member of the Migration Expert Group at the European Commission, and director of the training Department at New Women Connectors Organisation.

How did you start your first step in kudwa organization?

I started the first step when I moved from England to Barcelona, where I felt a lack of support for the Syrian community / Arabic-speaking community in Spain, especially for women. In addition to the lack of decent work opportunities. Without mentioning the difficulties caused by this marginalization in achieving integration into the new society, and understanding the opportunities for progress when the main concern is survival. I created Kudwa organization to create a supportive community among the community members and to exchange experiences and information, and from there, Kudwa organization grew based on the needs of this community.

Kudwa was at first for Syrians in Spain and extended to include several Arabic-speaking nationalities. Because of the great similarity in situations and circumstances, the same challenges and the same goals too.

What difficulties did you face and how did you overcome them?

The difficulties were generally structural and foundational difficulties. The difficulties of registering an organization and obtaining financial support for carrying out meaningful activities. I started volunteering for a long time before getting enough funding to support the activities.

I overcame it with the support of the community we built, and to keep the needs of this community as a compass for making decisions and continuing to work

What are your tips for everyone who is still searching for the way?

My piece of advice is that they explore their personal values as a guide to the right path. Follow their intuition and persevere in their work. “A positive impact on the lives of others – even if it is only one person – is enough to know the path and persist it,” she said.

What is the difference between a successful and an ordinary person?

The difference between a successful and an ordinary person is the circumstances. I believe that anyone can be successful if they have the right conditions. It is possible that one of us will not be able to make a difference until having the right conditions. Or rather, until the foundations are available to create the right conditions.

What are your next dreams and goals?

My dreams are to be able to create a community capable of supporting its members, and for everyone in it to feel that they can pursue their dreams with the help of others. A society that grows with the growth of its members. From small projects to the change of policies and laws related to it.

My next goals are to work to increase the representation of our immigrant community at all stages of decision-making and policy-making at the national and European levels and to increase the awareness and involvement of society in Spanish and European political life.

From Uplifting Syrian Women Family, we wish all the success to Razan in her lofty endeavor, and we are sure that we will see Kudwa organization among the most successful organizations that seek to integrate Syrian immigrants into their new communities.

International Equal Pay Day

International Celebration / USW

International Equal Pay Day

257 years to close the global gender pay gap!
Humanity has been able to achieve many civilizational revolutions to transcend and overcome everything that is obsolete and old, but it has not been able to achieve equal pay between men and women. Therefore, the Sustainable Development plan seeks to mainstream a gender perspective and for both women and men to receive wages that are commensurate with the value given at work.

International Equal Pay Day

The International Day for Equal Pay celebrated on September 18, represents the longstanding efforts towards the achievement of equal pay for work of equal value.

Despite these efforts, gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls continue to be held back owing to the persistence of historical and structural unequal power relations between women and men. We, therefore, see progress in narrowing this gap as slow, despite considerable support, but in practice, it has been difficult and inflexible to change women’s reality of suffering and misery. [1]

Facts you should know

Women earn 77 cents for every dollar men earn in jobs with job insecurity and are under-represented in decision-making roles.
Despite the scientific achievements of women in the Arab world, women’s access to employment is significantly lower than men’s by up to 44%.
The overall rate of the gender pay gap in Saudi Arabia is 16.4%, and in the private sector, it is 36%. It was also found that the gender pay gap in the ratio of the average salary of women to men is 79% in the Sultanate of Oman, 77% in Egypt, and 61% in Lebanon. [2] [3]
Overall productivity will increase by investing in women’s skills because women currently represent 40% of the workforce and more than half of university students globally. [4]
If women have access to work on equal terms with the opportunities given to men, the global annual gross domestic product will increase by an average of 26%, which is approximately 28 trillion US dollars. [5]

Negative Effects of the Gender Pay Gap

The effects are not limited to women only, but to the whole family, especially when the woman is the breadwinner for her family. The results extend to reach the matter of hunger and poverty, and we move from the core of our problem, which is gender equality, to reducing hunger and poverty. [6]
The negative consequences do not depend on the foregoing, but rather the creative state of the woman is undermined because she does not have a stimulus to continue her work, and it may also cause her a state of anger and hatred for the man himself or for her being. All of this may lead us to psychological disorders that hinder women’s enjoyment of a decent life.
We also add a decrease in the level of job satisfaction among employees, and thus a decrease in the ability to produce and generate new ideas. Therefore, this will affect the establishment as a whole, and its reputation as well.

Gender Pay Equality in Syria

Syria is experiencing this kind of gender inequality like other Arab countries. The situation is exacerbated by the inability of some women to refuse their unequal remuneration, owing to the country’s low economic conditions and general wages. But fortunately, we live in an age that supports self-employment, so some women have gone into its market. Thus, women can follow their services’ pricing policy away from what they are exposed to in some companies.

The initiative’s relationship with the International Equal Pay Day

The initiative seeks, through its provided services, to increase the opportunities for women and girls to get better jobs. It also seeks to enable them to acquire skills with which they can start self-employment away from the policies of external work environments. The initiative’s services do not stop at enriching women with certain skills, but rather seek to remind them of the rights that they should enjoy.

USW

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The Definition of Violence Against Children

Types of Violence Against Children

The Causes of Violence Against Children

The Impact of Violence Against Children

Statistics on Violence Against Children

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World Mental Health Day and Its goals

Among the objectives of this day

Important facts and figures

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The Role of the World Health Organization in Mental Health

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Jihan al-Mosli’s biography

Jihan Al-Mosli’s Achievements

The most important inputs of Jihan AL-Mosli in the Constitution

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Treatment options

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pharmaceutical:

Follow up with a specialist:

International Day of Non-Violence

What is the story behind the International Day of non-violence?

How to celebrate the International Day of non-violence?

A woman’s place in this day

Breast Cancer and World Breast Cancer Awareness Month- Pink October

Breast Cancer And Its Most Common Types

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Why Is Early Detection of Breast Cancer Better?

Role and Opinion of Uplifting Syrian Women in Pink October

International Day of Translation

Why On September 30th?

How Is This Day Celebrated?

Multilingualism; Importance and Necessity

Translation at the United Nations

Translation Under the Light of Artificial Intelligence

International Day of Peace

What is the International Day of Peace?

What are the objectives of the International Day of Peace?

Women’s and Day of Peace

Peace and development

“Choose Peace” Campaign

Success Story: Razan Ismail

Who is Razan?

How did you start your first step in kudwa organization?

What difficulties did you face and how did you overcome them?

What are your tips for everyone who is still searching for the way?

What is the difference between a successful and an ordinary person?

What are your next dreams and goals?

International Equal Pay Day

International Equal Pay Day

Facts you should know

Negative Effects of the Gender Pay Gap

Gender Pay Equality in Syria

The initiative’s relationship with the International Equal Pay Day

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