Syrian Women's Council discusses human rights situation during seminar

The Syrian Women's Council held a dialogue seminar at its headquarters in Raqqa, entitled "The Importance of Human Rights in Syria," with the participation of members of the Council, representatives from the Women's Council of the Democratic Islam Conference, the Al al-Bayt Association, the Women's Council of North and East Syria, the Camps Committee, the Young Women's Union Office, and members of the Kurdish Red Crescent.

This seminar, held to commemorate International Human Rights Day on December 10th, aimed to highlight the human rights situation in Syria, the grave challenges faced by Syrians in general and women in particular, and to discuss ways to promote a culture of rights and justice within society. It also emphasized the crucial role of women in defending freedoms and building a democratic society based on equality.

The seminar was moderated by Suhair Sanouh, the member of the Syrian Women's Council Coordination in Raqqa province, as she emphasized "the importance of strengthening human rights in Syria and the pivotal role women play in defending rights and freedoms and contributing to building a just and democratic society."

She noted that human rights have become a central issue in the context of the political and humanitarian crises the country is experiencing, explaining that they have received widespread international attention since the start of the Syrian crisis in 2011.

Suhair Sanouh added that the human rights situation in Syria must be examined from multiple perspectives, including individual, societal, and international levels, stressing the necessity of addressing this issue as a foundation for any future political solution.

The seminar addressed the most serious violations suffered by Syrians during the years of the crisis, primarily killing and forced displacement, as the conflict has resulted in the death of hundreds of thousands and the displacement of millions both within and outside the country.

The seminar also highlighted cases of torture and physical abuse documented by human rights organizations against civilians and political activists, as well as the phenomenon of enforced disappearance of thousands of Syrians in the prisons and detention centers of the fallen Baathist regime.

The symposium emphasized the gravity of using internationally prohibited weapons, particularly chemical weapons, against civilians, deeming it a flagrant violation of international laws and norms, and a crime against humanity.

The symposium also discussed the fundamental rights of citizens in Syria, the foremost of which is the right to life, which faces significant challenges due to the ongoing consequences of war and military attacks, the right to personal security in light of arbitrary arrest and torture, and the right to justice, which has noticeably declined due to the absence of independent courts and weak mechanisms for legal accountability.

The role of civil society in defending human rights was also discussed, with the observation that "public freedoms were severely restricted before the outbreak of the conflict, and with the start of the Syrian revolution, many activists were subjected to repression, arrest, and torture, prompting many of them to work within international organizations that contributed to documenting violations and bringing the Syrian human rights issue to international forums."

After that, the floor was opened for discussion among the participants, who stressed that building a stable and sustainable Syrian future requires respect for human rights by all parties, working on reconstruction based on justice and equality, achieving transitional justice by holding those responsible for the crimes committed accountable, in addition to promoting national reconciliation and reaching a comprehensive political solution that guarantees the rights of all citizens without discrimination.

The seminar concluded by emphasizing that human rights in Syria are a fundamental issue for achieving peace and justice, and that lasting stability cannot be achieved without respecting fundamental rights, holding the perpetrators of violations accountable, and enabling Syrian citizens to live with dignity in a society free from violence and discrimination.

J.J

ANHA