Armenian Women’s Union holds dialogue forum on women’s role in peace, justice
At a dialogue forum, Armenian women emphasized that women must be decision-makers, rejecting their marginalization by the Syrian Transitional Government. They asserted that decentralization fulfills women’s aspirations, stressed the need for women’s political and economic empowerment, and called for the abolition of discriminatory laws and the criminalization of hate speech.
The Armenian Women’s Union of North and East Syria organized a dialogue forum under the title “The Role of Women in Building Peace and Achieving Transitional Justice.” It was held in the "Khabour" hall in the Tel Hajar neighborhood of Hasaka city, with broad participation from representatives of civil society organizations, political parties, and the Syrian Democratic Council.
The forum was opened by Kohar Khajadorian, a member of the political bureau of the Armenian Union Party, who said: “For centuries, women have suffered under patriarchal systems and authoritarian laws that marginalized them. However, thanks to their continuous struggle, especially since the start of the Rojava Revolution, they have been able to protect their achievements and make their voices heard throughout society.”
She added: “Today, women are not only present, but they also pass on their experience to society as a whole.”
The forum included two main discussion topics. The first was titled “Where is the New Syria Headed?” and the second, “The Role of Women in Building Peace and Achieving Transitional Justice.”
The first session was moderated by Selda Simonian, an administrator in the Armenian Women’s Union, who emphasized that Syria is undergoing a difficult and complex transformation. She said: “The current Damascus authority is trying to return with the same mentality that brought the country to ruin 14 years ago—a mentality of violence and exclusion. Therefore, a new Syria cannot be built by those whose hands are stained with the blood of Syrians.”
She added: “To reach a democratic and just Syria, we must rely on the project of the Autonomous Administration as an alternative that guarantees representation for all, without exception.”
The second session was moderated by Seta Karbo, an administrator of the Armenian Women’s Union in Qamishlo, who stressed that women are the cornerstone of any new Syrian society.
She stated: “In areas under Damascus authority’s control, women are subjected to violence, marginalization, and murder. Therefore, the international community must take transitional justice seriously and ensure justice for victims and accountability for perpetrators, without impunity.”
Karbo emphasized that women must be key partners in building Syria’s future, highlighting the importance of including women’s rights in any political or constitutional process.
The forum concluded with a final statement read by Lusnak Kafourian, co-chair of the Armenian Youth Movement. The statement asserted that there can be no peace without justice, and that the Syria they aspire to will not be built on forgetfulness or political bargaining.
The statement emphasized that the country’s future must be based on:
- Ending violence against the Syrian people and restoring security to guarantee the unity of Syrian territory.
- Empowering women in marginalized areas to ensure their representation in decision-making processes.
- Including women in the mechanisms of future justice, political negotiations, peace agreements, and the drafting of legal legislation.
- Recognizing women as part of the transitional justice process.
It also stressed that Syria is a multi-identity state, rejecting the marginalization of any components. It called for equal citizenship and the protection of the cultural heritage of all groups as part of the national memory, and for recognizing women as decision-makers, not victims.
On the mechanisms for achieving transitional justice for Syrian women, the statement called for forming a special investigation committee on women and documenting crimes of sexual violence and forced displacement with impartiality, describing decentralization as the solution to guarantee women’s rights.
The statement also called for the abolition of discriminatory laws against women (such as those on inheritance, nationality, and reduced penalties for so-called “honor crimes”) and for the criminalization of hate speech against minorities in media and education.
In addition, it demanded the economic and political empowerment of women and the allocation of a 50% women’s quota in future founding bodies.
The statement concluded with a call to the international community not to treat Syria solely as a geopolitical issue, noting that Syrian women pay the price daily. It also called on Syrian civil society, affirming that unity is strength, and that women will not accept the division of Syrians along sectarian or ethnic lines. It addressed Syrian women directly: “We will not wait for someone to grant us our rights… We will claim them with our united voice.”
A-H
ANHA
Armenian Women’s Union holds dialogue forum on women’s role in peace, justice
The Armenian Women’s Union of North and East Syria organized a dialogue forum under the title “The Role of Women in Building Peace and Achieving Transitional Justice.” It was held in the "Khabour" hall in the Tel Hajar neighborhood of Hasaka city, with broad participation from representatives of civil society organizations, political parties, and the Syrian Democratic Council.
The forum was opened by Kohar Khajadorian, a member of the political bureau of the Armenian Union Party, who said: “For centuries, women have suffered under patriarchal systems and authoritarian laws that marginalized them. However, thanks to their continuous struggle, especially since the start of the Rojava Revolution, they have been able to protect their achievements and make their voices heard throughout society.”
She added: “Today, women are not only present, but they also pass on their experience to society as a whole.”
The forum included two main discussion topics. The first was titled “Where is the New Syria Headed?” and the second, “The Role of Women in Building Peace and Achieving Transitional Justice.”
The first session was moderated by Selda Simonian, an administrator in the Armenian Women’s Union, who emphasized that Syria is undergoing a difficult and complex transformation. She said: “The current Damascus authority is trying to return with the same mentality that brought the country to ruin 14 years ago—a mentality of violence and exclusion. Therefore, a new Syria cannot be built by those whose hands are stained with the blood of Syrians.”
She added: “To reach a democratic and just Syria, we must rely on the project of the Autonomous Administration as an alternative that guarantees representation for all, without exception.”
The second session was moderated by Seta Karbo, an administrator of the Armenian Women’s Union in Qamishlo, who stressed that women are the cornerstone of any new Syrian society.
She stated: “In areas under Damascus authority’s control, women are subjected to violence, marginalization, and murder. Therefore, the international community must take transitional justice seriously and ensure justice for victims and accountability for perpetrators, without impunity.”
Karbo emphasized that women must be key partners in building Syria’s future, highlighting the importance of including women’s rights in any political or constitutional process.
The forum concluded with a final statement read by Lusnak Kafourian, co-chair of the Armenian Youth Movement. The statement asserted that there can be no peace without justice, and that the Syria they aspire to will not be built on forgetfulness or political bargaining.
The statement emphasized that the country’s future must be based on:
- Ending violence against the Syrian people and restoring security to guarantee the unity of Syrian territory.
- Empowering women in marginalized areas to ensure their representation in decision-making processes.
- Including women in the mechanisms of future justice, political negotiations, peace agreements, and the drafting of legal legislation.
- Recognizing women as part of the transitional justice process.
It also stressed that Syria is a multi-identity state, rejecting the marginalization of any components. It called for equal citizenship and the protection of the cultural heritage of all groups as part of the national memory, and for recognizing women as decision-makers, not victims.
On the mechanisms for achieving transitional justice for Syrian women, the statement called for forming a special investigation committee on women and documenting crimes of sexual violence and forced displacement with impartiality, describing decentralization as the solution to guarantee women’s rights.
The statement also called for the abolition of discriminatory laws against women (such as those on inheritance, nationality, and reduced penalties for so-called “honor crimes”) and for the criminalization of hate speech against minorities in media and education.
In addition, it demanded the economic and political empowerment of women and the allocation of a 50% women’s quota in future founding bodies.
The statement concluded with a call to the international community not to treat Syria solely as a geopolitical issue, noting that Syrian women pay the price daily. It also called on Syrian civil society, affirming that unity is strength, and that women will not accept the division of Syrians along sectarian or ethnic lines. It addressed Syrian women directly: “We will not wait for someone to grant us our rights… We will claim them with our united voice.”
A-H
ANHA
