Press release
Syrian Opposition Coalition
Department of Media and Communications
November 25, 2023
Today, November 25, marks the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, a significant occasion adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in Resolution (A/RES/54/134) of 2000. Regrettably, on this day, the Assad regime’s systematic practices against the Syrian people persist, resulting in an alarming escalation of violence against Syrian women.
Since 2011, Syrian women have endured unprecedented forms of violence directly linked to the repressive tactics of the Assad regime. These include arrests, brutal torture, sexual violence, and extrajudicial killings affecting tens of thousands of women. The devastating impact extends to the loss of loved ones, including children, who have fallen victim to similar atrocities. Additionally, Syrian women grapple with the harsh realities of displacement and forced migration, causing untold tragedies for millions of women and their families. Numerous human rights reports from international organizations and commissions of inquiry corroborate these harrowing experiences.
The Syrian Opposition Coalition (SOC) underscores that the Assad regime’s ongoing practices amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity, with women bearing a disproportionate brunt of the violence. Women are systematically targeted as a form of punishment for their political and civil activities, exacerbating the challenges they face. The SOC calls upon the international community to take immediate legal and political measures to address these severe violations faced by Syrian women and the broader Syrian population.
The SOC urgently appeals to the international community and the United Nations to leverage all available tools to swiftly activate approved mechanisms aimed at ending all forms of violence against women in Syria. A primary focus should be the immediate release of female and male detainees from the regime’s prisons.
Furthermore, the SOC emphasizes that the restoration of the effective role of Syrian women in all regions is inseparable from achieving the aspirations of the Syrian people. This necessitates a commitment to political transition through the full implementation of UN Security Council Resolutions 2254 (2015) and 2118 (2013). Empowering Syrian men and women is crucial to building a Syria founded on principles of freedom, democracy, pluralism, and equal citizenship.
