Syrian activists: Fair constitution for women is key to Syria's stability

Under the title "The Syrian Woman Between Two Governance Projects: The Constitutional Declaration of the Transitional Government in Damascus and the Social Contract in North and East Syria," the Women's Office of the Syrian Democratic Council organized an online seminar with the participation of Syrian activists from various cities, as well as attendees from France.

The seminar, moderated by Jihan Khadro, head of the Women’s Office of the Council, served as a platform for comparing the constitutional declaration issued by the transitional government in Syria with the social contract adopted by the Autonomous Administration of NE Syria, focusing on the position of women in both documents and the extent to which their political and social rights are guaranteed.

In her opening remarks, Khadro addressed the legal and political dimensions of both documents, noting that the constitutional declaration reflects a centralized approach that lacks female representation and clear provisions to protect and empower women legally and socially.

In contrast, she highlighted the social contract in North and East Syria, which emerged from broad popular dialogues and enshrines the principle of equality by guaranteeing 50 percent representation for women in administrative and governing institutions. It also provides legal guarantees to protect their rights, something she described as a significant step forward in achieving gender justice.

Khadro affirmed that integrating women's rights into any future constitutional framework is not a legal luxury but a necessity for ensuring Syria’s stability. She stressed that excluding women from negotiation and decision-making processes only results in incomplete governance models that lack the foundations for real change.

The seminar saw active engagement from the participants, who presented a set of key demands, including: incorporating the principle of equality into any upcoming constitutional agreement; allocating no less than 40 percent representation for women in transitional governance institutions; drafting a unified personal status law that protects women’s rights in marriage, divorce, and inheritance; and establishing an independent national body focused on women’s affairs.

The seminar concluded with a strong consensus that any project to build Syria’s future must be based on equal partnership between men and women, starting with constitution drafting and extending to all governing institutions. Participants agreed that Syria’s democratic and political future cannot be realized without a fair constitution that ensures justice for women and recognizes them as partners in the nation and makers of peace.

A-H 

ANHA