The Syrian Feminist Lobby, with support from the Euro Mediterranean women’s initiative, conducted a three-day pressure visit to Geneva. During this visit, members of the lobby, including Rima Flihan, the Executive Director, Jumana Saif from the Advisory Committee, and coordinators Dina Abu Al-Hasan, Samara Al-Atasi, and Walaa Kharmanda, held a series of meetings and discussions. These discussions focused on the necessity of achieving a political solution in line with relevant international decisions regarding the Syrian crisis under the auspices of the United Nations. They also emphasized the rejection of any side paths. Additionally, they discussed the issue of enforced disappearances and its impact on the victims and their families. Furthermore, they stressed the importance of achieving transitional justice and holding more criminals accountable in Syria to achieve sustainable peace and stability.
Several meetings were also held with the Fact-Finding Commission at the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the International, Impartial, and Independent Mechanism (IIIM). Meetings were held with international missions from the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Denmark, as well as with the International Envoy’s Office. The importance of supporting the accountability and justice process was reiterated during these meetings. They reviewed legal proceedings and emphasized the need to approach them from a gender perspective. The lobby members presented recommendations from the report “Death is not the Worst. It’s also Waiting,” which the lobby prepared regarding the impact of enforced disappearances on Syrians, particularly women.
Through this visit, the Syrian Feminist Lobby aims to underscore the importance of achieving a democratic state and escaping all forms of oppression to create a better future for all Syrians in terms of human rights in general. It also highlights the issues of equality and rights for Syrian women in particular. The visit serves as a reminder of the importance of women’s participation in public life and negotiations and ensures women’s rights in all political documents prepared for Syria’s future. Moreover, it sheds light on the dangers of the forced return of Syrian refugees.
