New rulers, same neglect for Syrian Women's Advisory Board

Despite the political transformations in Syria and the shift in power from the Assad regime to the transitional government, the situation for women has not seen tangible improvement, as exclusion persists, albeit with different justifications.

 This is evident in the experience of the Syrian Women's Advisory Council, established in 2016 under a United Nations initiative to represent women's voices in the Syrian political process.

The council was formed based on UN Resolutions 1325 and 2254, which support women's roles in peace processes and decision-making. It began with 20 members selected from diverse social and regional backgrounds.

 However, due to political pressures and lack of recognition from both the regime and the opposition, the council operated in secrecy and caution, often from outside Syria. Until 2024, the council's work remained in the shadows. Meetings were held in Geneva or European countries, and information was gathered from Syrian research organizations to be sent to the United Nations in confidential reports. Women were not invited to participate in any official dialogues, reflecting a systematic denial of their role by all parties. In 2024, in an attempt to revitalize the council, its membership was completely renewed.

Out of 300 women who applied, only 15 were selected through a process that prioritized individual selection over representation of women's organizations. Among the new members are three Kurdish women, two of whom come from religious backgrounds (one Yazidi), alongside Alawite, Druze, Armenian, and Arab women, in an effort to reflect Syria's societal diversity.

Rokan Ahmed, the  council member, explained that work began to gain momentum inside Syria after the fall of the Assad regime. The first official meeting inside the country was held in Damascus in May 2025, attended by the Minister of Social Affairs in the transitional government, Hind Qabwat.

During the meeting, members emphasized the need to move beyond "advisory" roles to active participation in political decision-making. They also criticized the transitional government's rhetoric toward women and other groups, particularly regarding rising hatred and violations. However, the transitional government's stance was shocking, as it explicitly declared that it does not recognize UN Resolution 2254, arguing that it pertains to the era of the former regime and is therefore irrelevant.

This position reflects the continued political exclusion of women despite the change in leadership. Following recent massacres and violations in Sweida and its surroundings, which included forced displacement, abductions, and killings targeting women, the council sent a letter to the United Nations demanding the formation of an independent international committee to investigate the violations.

 It warned that Syrian women continue to be used as pawns in the conflict without guarantees for their protection or empowerment.

The experience of the Syrian Women's Advisory Council highlights the failure of successive political powers to genuinely involve women in the political solution. It also underscores that systematic exclusion is not the product of a specific regime but a deeply rooted behavior among those claiming to represent the people while failing to include half of them.

a.k

ANHA