Under the slogan of “Al-Assad and his elections are illegitimate,” the second Syrian Women’s Forum was held in Afrin on May 22 under the sponsorship of SOC’s President Nasr Al-Hariri and under the supervision of Vice-president and the Supervisor of the SOC’s Office for Women Ruba Habboush. Participants included many women who are active in public and political affairs.
The Forum was opened by President al-Hariri who stressed the important role of Syrian women in political and societal work, and the importance of their participation in building the new Syria and new political institutions and parties. With regard to the political process, he stressed the need for the international community to impose a political transition and hold the Assad regime accountable. He said that the SOC sent letters to more than 70 states in order to urge rejection of these sham elections and hold the Assad regime accountable.
Participants discussed the major issues and difficulties facing the work of Syrian women in various fields and sectors, especially political work. They stressed their rejections of the sham elections that the Assad regime intends to hold, calling for serious steps by the international community towards this farce.
The Forum came as part of the efforts of the SOC’s Office for Women to launch the Syrian Women’s Commission with the aim of supporting the participation of women in political and societal activities, protecting their rights, and expanding the circle of women’s work in public affairs.
At the end of the Forum, participants issued a final communique which emphasized their rejection of the elections farce and condemnation of the crime of forced displacement being committed by the Assad regime and its Iranian and Russian allies, the most recent of which was the displacement of hundreds of people from the town of Um Batinah in rural Quneitra.
The communique stressed the need to consolidate the role of Syrian women in the political process in line with the Geneva Communique of 2012 and UN Security Council resolutions 2118 and 2254, as well to step up efforts to support women and provide them with the opportunity to engage in all institutions and decision-making centers.
The first Syrian Women’s Forum was held in the town of Azaz on April 7. (Source: SOC’s Media Department)
