The political rights of Syrian women

Introduction:
When discussing women’s political rights, the goal is to achieve gender equality in political participation. According to the Convention on the Political Rights of Women, an international treaty adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in session 409 on December 20, 1952, and enacted on March 31, 1953, its aim is to “codify the fundamental international standards for women’s political rights.” The convention enshrines Principle No. 21 in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which states that every citizen has the right to participate in the government of their country and access public services provided by it. This is precisely what the Convention on the Political Rights of Women seeks to protect. This convention was the first global legal statute to protect women’s political rights and the first international agreement to safeguard citizens’ political rights. It was one of the United Nations’ efforts after World War II to establish laws to prevent racism against women, alongside several related conventions on women’s rights launched in 1985 and 1964. Recently, these conventions have been consolidated into a single treaty to highlight all forms of discrimination against women, which was unanimously approved in 1967. The treaty ensures that women have the right to vote in all elections, are eligible to be elected to bodies established by general elections under national law, and have the right to hold public office and perform all public functions without discrimination. In other words, humanity’s progress in securing women’s rights has empowered women, who were once deprived of fundamental rights in many parts of the world. Women have advanced in political decision-making and strengthened democratic participation, which we, at the Syrian Future Movement, strive to support, particularly through the Office of Family Affairs.

Syrian Women:
The history of women’s involvement in Syrian life is rich and commendable, especially compared to other Middle Eastern countries. Despite the challenges faced during Ba’ath Party rule, which affected all segments of Syrian society, it can be said that women in Syria, following the country’s establishment as a political entity, achieved equality with men, participated in politics and governance, and gained full political rights. Syrian women have held ministerial and leadership positions, served as Vice President of the Republic, occupied roles in universities, led local councils, and filled various positions in the diplomatic corps and the state’s administrative structure. Despite the challenges, Syrian women have continued to play leadership roles in the UN-led political process, making significant contributions to humanitarian aid and peacebuilding efforts. Since the outbreak of the popular revolution in Syria, efforts to support women’s rights have focused on several areas, including:

• Political Participation: Women were included in the Constitutional Committee at nearly 30%, a significant development.
• Personal Status Law Amendments: There have been amendments to Syria’s personal status law to enhance women’s rights, as reflected in the 2021 law (No. 13) covering marriage, divorce, and custody. This law abolished many outdated provisions, offering greater protection to women in our society and ending the notion of women as “inferior beings.”
• Training and Skills Development: Increasing participation in training activities and capacity-building programs targeting women.

Ongoing Challenges:
However, significant challenges remain for women’s rights in Syria. Women have lost security, housing, livelihoods, and social status, and they have also been subjected to domestic violence, sexual harassment, and institutional discrimination, not to mention arrest and kidnapping, particularly in the prisons of the Syrian regime, and after the battles with ISIS and its defeat. In the absence of a political solution in sight, women and girls continue to suffer from psychological trauma and violence, both within Syria and in refugee camps abroad. This suffering requires further study and attention, especially in displacement camps and host countries. Yet, the struggle for political participation and equality continues, which we hope to achieve through political change that respects human rights and women’s rights in Syria.

Conclusion:
There is no doubt that Syrian women suffer as much as men, youth, and children do. Highlighting the importance of women’s political rights is essentially about the importance of political rights for all Syrians. Therefore, we at the Syrian Future Movement aim to ensure that women’s political rights are upheld, starting from the foundation of our Office of Family Affairs in the Syrian Future Movement. We recommend the following to support women’s political rights in Syria:

1. Raising Awareness: Launch awareness campaigns for the community and women alike to increase awareness of the importance of women’s roles and their ability to influence and participate in building society.
2. Promoting Women’s Role: Implement quotas (reserved seats for women in leadership positions) through positive discrimination for women, with careful consideration to avoid making quotas a bureaucratic obstacle or a mere formality by filling positions with token figures.
3. International Monitoring: Ensure international monitoring and follow-up on the implementation of women’s rights treaties and agreements, and hold accountable any entity that violates laws concerning women.

Finally, we at the Syrian Future Movement are open to any Syrian initiative or path that seeks to enhance women’s political rights in Syria and achieve equality and justice.

Wahiba Al-Masri
Office of Family Affairs
Research and Studies Department
Studies
Syrian Future Movement (SFM)

References:

1. Workshop on Political Empowerment of Syrian Women – The Day After.
2. Summary of the Study on Enhancing the Participation of Syrian Women in Northern Syria – LDO.
3. Prominent Amendments to the Syrian Personal Status Law in Favor of Women.
4. Women’s Rights in Syria: Reality and Aspirations – Harmoon Center for Contemporary Studies.
5. The Women’s Coalition That Bridged Differences to Build Peace in Syria.
6. Syrian Women: Leading Towards a Peaceful Syria | UN Women.
7. Inclusion of Syrian Women in Peace Efforts is Essential for Lasting Peace.
8. Common Priorities: Strengthening Women’s Rights in Syria – IMPACT Research.
9. On the Reality and Prospects of Syrian Feminism – Musawa | Women’s Studies Center.
10. Women’s Rights in Syria Between Discriminatory Laws and Patriarchal Culture.
11. Syrian Women’s Participation in the Syrian Political Process: Advocacy Consolidation.