Hanadi Abu Arab, Deputy Head of the opposition’s High Negotiations Committee (HNC) said that women are adequately represented in the HNC’s delegation to Geneva, adding that more than 20 Syrian women participated actively in the Riyadh II conference and the current round of negotiations.
Abu Arab made her remarks during a teleconference with women in northern Syria. Both sides discussed the participation of Syrian women in the current round of talks in Geneva and if the representation of Syrian women meets the standards that have been determined under the Convention on The Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). The teleconference also discussed the international and local attitude of the effectiveness of the participation of women in the negotiating process and their role in pushing the negotiating process ahead.
Abu Arab said that the representation of women was adequate and inclusive. “We insist that women must be represented by a ratio of at least 30 per cent in all international events and meetings and we are seeking that women are equally represented in future events.”
It was agreed to expand the base of women’s communication and to hold an expanded meeting of Syrian women in northern Syria.
Abu Arab also held a teleconference in the town of Reyhanli in southern Turkey with leaders representing the revolution forces and the armed opposition. The teleconference discussed the outcome of the Riyadh II conference and its final communiqué as well as the current round of Geneva negotiations.
Abu Arab described the meeting as “positive and effective,” noting that representatives of the revolution forces and the armed opposition put forward a set of suggestions and recommendations to the HNC to be discussed during the current round of negotiations.
Abu Arab reiterated the HNC delegation’s firm commitment to the guiding principles of the Syrian revolution as well as the Geneva Communiqué of 2012 and relevant international resolutions on Syria, most importantly UN Security Council resolutions 2118 and 2254 as the basis for negotiations.
Negotiations in Geneva were resumed on Tuesday. The HNC’s delegation will meet today with the team of the UN envoy to Syria, Staffan de Mistura, at the UN headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland to discuss the political transition process and all other baskets. (Source: Syrian Coalition’s Media Department)
