The Syrian Opposition Coalition’s (SOC) Women Office held a panel discussion on success stories of Syrian women in civil society and revolutionary work as well as the challenges they are facing. The panel discussion, which was held under the supervision of the SOC’s Vice-president and Coordinator of the Women Office, Ruba Habboush, came as part of a plan to highlight examples of successful women working in various areas of the public affairs and to learn from their experiences.
Keynote speakers included Director of the Women’s Office at the Union of Political Bodies and Director of Sahabet Watan Group Thuraya Al-Hadi, Chair of the Board of Directors of the Jana Watan Organization Nisreen Al-Rish, as well as organizations and activists concerned with women affairs.
Al-Rish gave an overview on her experience and involvement in the revolutionary movement and her activities in support of detainees on the prions of the Assad regime. She also talked about her activities in support of refugees in Lebanon, Turkey and northern Syria, as well as in supporting IDPs in the areas of humanitarian aid, education, and food security.
Al-Rish also expressed her belief in the revolutionary work of women and the need to support and empower women in the liberated areas so as to participate in elections of local councils and decision-making centers.
Al-Hadi talked about her career and activity in helping the IDPs integrate in the liberated areas as well as her participation in symposiums and meetings. She also talked about the establishment of the Dar Ibdaa Center to support and empower women. The center comprises a large number of women activists, which required the formation of Sahabet Watan Group in the liberated areas. The Group provides women with all types of support and seeks to strengthen their presence in decision-making circles.
Participants stressed that Syrian women need more support and empowerment in order to contribute to political and societal decision-making. They said that the First Forum for Syrian Women that the SOC held at the Free Aleppo University two weeks ago can act as the basis for further work. They also stressed the need continue to work until achieving justice, democracy and equal citizenship in Syria. (Source: SOC’s Media Department)
