Today, the Syrian Future Movement joins the international community in celebrating the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2015 and observed annually on February 11.
This year, 2026, the celebration takes place under two complementary themes:
- “From Vision to Impact: Redefining STEM by Closing the Gender Gap,” as defined by UNESCO, focusing on moving from awareness and recommendations to showcasing best practices and concrete solutions for building inclusive science systems.
- “Synergizing AI, Social Science, STEM and Finance: Building Inclusive Futures for Women and Girls,” as affirmed by the United Nations, highlighting the role of integrating these four pillars in accelerating sustainable and inclusive development.
The Syrian Future Movement sees this day as a strategic opportunity for a new Syria, given the transitional phase the country is currently experiencing after years of conflict and radical change.
We also believe that empowering women and girls in the fields of science and technology is a national imperative for building a strong, modern state capable of addressing the challenges of sustainable development, reconstruction, and integration into the global digital economy, especially considering the impact of emerging technologies like artificial intelligence on gender equality.
The Syrian Future Movement affirms that Syrian women have always been essential partners in the resilience of society, whether in education, healthcare, or social innovation during the most difficult circumstances.
However, the gender gap in higher education and scientific disciplines persists, limiting the potential of half of society to contribute effectively to rebuilding the nation. This gap is exacerbated by the impact of the conflict on girls’ education in affected areas and by the specific cultural and economic obstacles inherent to the Syrian context.
The Syrian Future Movement calls for a clear vision for the future: a unified, pluralistic Syria that relies on knowledge and innovation as the primary drivers of development. In this vision, women and girls are at the heart of the scientific and technological process, through:
- Ensuring equal access to quality education in STEM fields from the earliest stages of education, with a focus on conflict-affected areas.
- Establishing national scholarship and specialized training programs for girls in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, including the integration of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies.
- Integrating a gender equality perspective into reconstruction policies, particularly in the renewable energy, artificial intelligence, smart agriculture, and sustainable finance sectors.
- Encouraging women’s entrepreneurship in technological fields, with financial and legislative support that protects intellectual property rights and economic participation, and provides immediate opportunities in reconstruction projects.
The Syrian Future Movement believes that the current transitional phase represents a historic opportunity for radical reform, manifested in drafting a constitution that guarantees full equality, reforming educational curricula to be free of gender discrimination, and establishing national mechanisms to monitor women’s participation in scientific and academic institutions.
We see closing the gender gap in science as a moral obligation and a strategic investment that fosters innovation, reduces poverty, and builds a more cohesive and sustainable society.
The Syrian Future Movement calls on all national stakeholders—the transitional government, civil society, the private sector, and international organizations—to collaborate in implementing a long-term national plan for women’s empowerment in science. This plan should link the Sustainable Development Goals, UN conventions, and Syria’s actual post-conflict needs with short-term programs to support women in immediate reconstruction projects.
The Syrian Future Movement reaffirms its commitment to building a future Syria where every girl and woman can realize her scientific potential without hindrance, contributing to a better present and future for the nation and for generations to come.
