MSDOn Tuesday, February 8th, the Women’s Office of the Syrian Democratic Council held its annual meeting to assess its work progress over the past year, know the challenges facing Syrian women in general, and set programs and plans for the current year to enhance women’s presence and expand a participation at all levels.
The meeting was attended by the co-chairwoman of the Syrian Democratic Council and the presidency of the Women’s Office, in addition to the committees and office branches that were distributed in the regions of North and East of Syria, Aleppo and al-Shahba.
The meeting members discussed the current political situation of the Syrian crisis, the complexities of the general scene in the country and the recent developments in the Syrian regions, especially the events of Al-Sina’a prison in Al-Hasakah and efforts to combat terrorism.
The meeting members reviewed the political report prepared by the office, the interference of international and regional parties and actors and their influence on the path of the solution and the negative role of regional states, especially the Turkish state, which occupied a large part of the lands in the North of the country, and its obstruction of international and local efforts that seeks to end the conflict.
Through their participations and constructive discussions, the female participants evaluated the political situation in general, as they elaborated on the issue of a political solution, the international paths proposed, and the presence of women within the efforts made.
They discussed the role of Syrian women in general, the challenges they face in different areas of their presence along the Syrian territories, and the violations committed against women in northwestern Syria, especially the Afrin region, which has been occupied since 2018 by Turkey, Al-Qaeda and ISIS remnants.
They also touched upon the situation of restriction facing women in areas under the control of the authority in Damascus, and the marginalization of women within the Syrian opposition, while the meeting members praised the advanced situation of women in the regions of North and East of Syria and their distinguished presence in all administrative, political and social structures and their prominent diplomatic role, as well as their role in defending the region and fighting terrorism within the Syrian Democratic Forces and the Women’s Protection Units.
At the organizational level, the meeting members discussed the structure of the office and its role in empowering women and enhancing their presence in political life and decision-making after the adoption of the majority of civil and political organizations and structures, the co-presidency where women participate in management and leadership.
At the conclusion of the meeting, they emphasized moving forward in the path of empowering Syrian women at all levels, and working on real participation of women in all international efforts to resolve the Syrian crisis.
At the national level, they stressed the importance of communicating and enhancing relations with Syrian women and coordinating efforts to highlight the issue of women and their rights, and to be a start for all Syrian parties to meet and establish comprehensive consensus to reach a pluralistic, democratic, decentralized Syria in which women’s rights are constitutionally protected.
