The Syrian Women’s Commission of the Syrian Opposition Coalition (SOC), held a final conference to graduate female trainees in the Diploma in Political Qualification as part of the Political Empowerment of Syrian Women project. Held in cooperation with the Stabilization Support Unit, the project aims to activate the role of women and raise political awareness of Syrian women residing in Türkiye and Syria.
The graduation ceremony brought together SOC’s President Salem Al-Meslet, SOC’s Vice-President and Head of the Syrian Women’s Authority Ruba Habboush, SOC’s Vice-President Abdulahad Astepho, member of the political committee Abdullah Kaddo, and SOC’s member Berwin Rami.
Al-Meslet praised the efforts of the Syrian Women’s Authority and the Assistance Coordination Unit to qualify Syrian women so that they can fully assume their true role in various fields of life, especially in politics.
Al-Meslet said that the SOC institution belongs to all Syrians, and it is working to ensure that more women join the General Assembly, adding that the SOC’s components are required to have women among their representatives in the SOC.
Al-Meslet gave an overview on the latest developments in the political process, reaffirming the SOC’s commitment to the process. He stressed the importance of continuing the work of the Constitutional Committee to keep the Syrian file on the international table.
Al-Meslet thanked the friendly states who support the Syrian people and their aspirations for freedom, dignity and democracy, and who are committed to their firm positions refusing to normalize relations with the Assad regime, lift sanctions off the regime, or to participate in the reconstruction process before a political solution is reached.
For her part, Habboush stressed that the Syrian Women’s Authority project began with great ambitions and steady steps to help Syrian women, pave the way for them, and overcome obstacles to empower them politically. She said that this requires providing the expertise and information that Syrian women need to add to their work and effort.
Habboush stressed that everyone knows that Syrian women have a lot of strength, audacity and competence to be in the first ranks in decision-making positions. She said that the Syrian Women’s Authority project will be the bridge for the great Syrian women who made a lot of sacrifices in this revolution.
Habboush also stressed that Syrian women are the major partner in building the future of Syria, and there will be no democracy without the presence of women in the first ranks and in all political, economic, social and cultural fields. She called for guaranteeing women’s rights constitutionally and legally, in line with a democratic state.
The graduates expressed their happiness to participate in the political training, which lasted for five months, with an average of 60 hours. They thanked everyone, especially those working on this diploma, and considered that it was a good and wonderful experience as it opened many horizons for them and new work mechanisms so that they have a role in the future of Syria and its reconstruction.
Meanwhile, the French special envoy for Syria, Brigitte Curmi, spoke about the sacrifices made by Syrian women in the Syrian revolution as she reaffirmed her country’s support for the SOC and the rights of the Syrian people. She expressed her aspirations to see more women in the Syrian political work.
Curmi also reaffirmed France’s commitment to refuse to normalize relations with the Assad regime, not to participate in the reconstruction process before a political solution is reached, and not to lift sanctions off the regime’s symbols.
For her part, Director of the Political Bureau for the Syrian File at the US State Department reaffirmed her country’s continued support for the rights of the Syrian people and supporting the Syrian women. She added that Syria belongs to all Syrians regardless of gender, as she expressed her pleasure at the competence and persistence of Syrian women despite the obstacles they faced in the political field.
(Source: SOC’s Media Department)
