Syrian Civil Society Conference on Women’s Rights to advance the Common Agenda for Combating Gender-Based Violence and Inclusive Peacebuilding
As part of its ongoing commitment to promoting meaningful feminist participation in Syria’s future, the Syrian Feminist Lobby took part in the Syrian Civil Society Conference on Women’s Rights, titled “Implementing the Common Agenda to Combat Violence Against Women and Girls and Promote Inclusive Peacebuilding in Syria”, held on June 24–25, 2025, in Brussels, Belgium. The event was organized by the EuroMed Feminist Initiative, Musawat, Dawlati, and Zoom-In. The conference was attended by various Syrian organizations, local initiatives, women’s rights organizations, youth groups, human rights organizations, and other networks based in Syria, along with legal experts, journalists, international civil society organizations, United Nations bodies, and international stakeholders.
💬 In a panel discussion titled “Transitional Justice and Gender-Sensitive Accountability,” moderated by Julia Jamal, a member of the Syrian Feminist Lobby, the session hosted legal expert Joumana Seif, the Executive Director of The Day After organization Moatasem Syoufi, and the Executive Director of the Syrian Feminist Lobby Rima Fleihan. In her intervention, Fleihan emphasized that any transitional justice process in Syria must be gender-sensitive, addressing the compounded violations women have endured—from detention and enforced disappearance to sexual violence and forced displacement, as well as legal, social, and economic marginalization. She pointed out that women have not only been victims but also active agents in confronting the consequences of the conflict, carrying the burden of livelihood and the pursuit of truth, while facing repeated violations without adequate protection. She affirmed that gender justice lies at the heart of transitional justice, and that sustainable peace cannot be achieved without the genuine participation of women, accountability for all parties involved in violations, redress for survivors, and the integration of women’s issues into the constitution, laws, and justice institutions.
📘 The conference also discussed the Gender-Sensitive Reconstruction Manual as a strategic tool to guide public policy toward ensuring women’s equal participation in shaping Syria’s future—its constitution, laws, and institutions. The conference concluded with a set of recommendations aimed at reinforcing international commitments to support gender-sensitive reconstruction in Syria and to ensure women’s participation in all aspects of reconstruction and decision-making. It also called for the creation of an enabling environment for collaboration between organizations, networks, and platforms advocating for women’s rights and Syrian women decision-makers. The recommendations were presented at the conclusion of the conference to the European Commission and international stakeholders.
