Syrian Coalition: Assad Regime Uses Violence Against Women as Means of Extortion

Noura Al Ameer, vice president of the Syrian Coalition, calls on the international community to activate international law and fight all forms of violence against women used by the Assad regime as a means of extortion to achieve political ends. “International law should not be limited to diagnosing problems faced by women, as there is a need for incrimination of all acts of violence against Syrian women. Penalization is one of the basic characteristics of the law, and without it law loses its effectiveness in reducing crime. It is necessary, therefore, to put pressure on Assad’s allies to stop disabling the functions of the Security Council and international law. The Russian and Chinese vetoes have so far shielded Assad against any condemnation of his brutal crackdown not only on Syrian women, but on the Syrian people as a whole.” Al Ameer also said that the Assad regime has used systematic violence against women in an attempt to suppress the will of the Syrian people since the early days of the revolution. The first case of kidnapping women was recorded in Homs on May 13, 2011, and was followed by various violations against women, including arrest, torture and rape. Moreover, the siege laid by regime forces on many areas in Syria has taken its toll on women, as many died and pregnant ones aborted due to shortage of live-saving supplies amid unprecedented silence by the international community.” Al Ameer also condemns the violations carried out by ISIS against Syrian women. “ISIS is undoubtedly one of Assad’s tools which he uses to tarnish the image of the Syrian Revolution and derail it away from its goals.” (Source: Syrian Coalition)