The First Syrian Women Forum concluded with the announcement of the launch of the Syrian Women Commission and an agreement to hold the second forum on a date due to be specified. Participants in the form, which begun at the Free University of Aleppo in the town of Azaz on Thursday, included many women who are active in various areas of public life.
A final communique was issued at the end of the Forum. It highly commended the role of Syrian women ten years after the start of the Syrian Revolution, stressing that Syrian women presented a model of courage, determination and commitment.
“Today, Syria women represent a great and unique experience of struggle, during which they faced various types of oppression and criminality with unmatched heroism and resilience. Despite the various violations, Syrian women are continuing the revolution in the face of the tyrannical regime,” the communique said.
The Forum stressed the need to consolidate the role of Syrian women in the political process that is based on the full commitment to the Geneva Communique of 2012 and UN Security Council Resolutions 2118 and 2254 to build a civil, democratic, pluralistic state that adopts the principle of equal citizenship.
Participants called for the immediate release of all detainees and the disclosure of the fate of the disappeared as they demanded that this issue must not be subject to negotiations. They also called on the United Nations and the international community to shoulder their responsibilities with regard to ending this human tragedy, extend a helping hand to the survivors form the detention centers and human slaughterhouses of the regime, and take care of their families.
Moreover, participants demanded the enforcement of the principles of accountability for perpetrators of war crimes and genocidal crimes against the Syrian people. They condemned the brutal bombing of civilians and populated areas by the Assad regime and its Russia and Iran allies and sectarian militias.
Participants called on the United Nations and all international humanitarian organizations to work on extending the mandate to deliver UN humanitarian aid to those in need, especially UN resolutions 2139 and 2165. They also stressed the need to open all border crossings as they warned that Russia’s use of the veto against the extension of the resolution on humanitarian aid will cause humanitarian disasters for civilians.
The Forum discussed the reality of Syrian women at the political, economic, social and educational levels, as well as the challenges and difficulties they are facing. It stressed the need for women to regain all their rights to jobs and equal wages, creating a suitable job environment for women; encouraging their involvement in an influential and significant way.
Furthermore, participants talked about guaranteeing women’s legal and constitutional rights and abolishing discriminatory laws against women wherever they exist, and adopting the principle of accountability in this regard. They called for respecting the peculiarity of Syrian women and the diversity of the Syrian society.
Participants called on the UN and all international humanitarian organizations to work on extending the mandate to deliver UN humanitarian aid to those in need, especially UN resolutions 2139 and 2165. They also stressed the need to open all border crossings as they warned that Russia’s use of the veto against the extension of the resolution on humanitarian aid will cause humanitarian disasters for civilians.
(Source: SOC’s Media Department)
