We hope for a pluralistic Syria in which the rights; freedoms of all sects and nationalities protected

Syrian women spoke to ANHA's agency about the prospects of the Syrian political solution and the participation of women from various components in drafting a new constitution for the country that guarantees their rights and enhances their status.

Citizen Sanaa Youssef focused on the necessity for Syrian women of various religious and national affiliations to participate in drafting the constitution; "to guarantee our rights and freedom," and stressed that women must regain their original status without any exclusion of their efforts.

Sanaa explained that as Syrian women, they want a pluralistic Syria that protects the rights and freedoms of all sects, nationalities, and religions, and achieving these hopes is linked to raising the level of cultural awareness and spreading the principles of equality and justice among all members of society.

University student Nariman Shaaban agreed with Sanaa on the necessity of women’s participation in drafting the constitution, stressing that women’s unity and solidarity will build the country and lead it towards peace.

Nariman stressed: “We must do our duties and then demand our rights. We are against attempts to divide our country, and we support women regaining their rights.” She added: “We must unify our discourse and raise our voices against attempts to deny our existence and marginalize our role. Women have a long history of struggle and are an essential part of Syrian society, and cannot be excluded or marginalized.”

While Arabic language teacher Hanifa Ajaj said: “I support and agree with women obtaining their rights and carrying out their duties, which begin at home by teaching their children to respect and appreciate women and educating them with correct knowledge, as there is no discrimination between males and females from a young age.”

Hanifa added: "Family members must be educated in this way so that society is cohesive and free of gender-based racism, and educated and influential women in society must educate the generation on achieving balance and equality between women's and men's rights."

Hanifa stressed that whoever speaks on behalf of Syrians must represent "our needs and aspirations," and anything that contradicts these aspirations "does not represent us at all."

 Hanifa presented her conditions for what the country's new constitution should take into account, including "staying away from the centralized, extremist discourse, not imposing restrictions on women's freedom and keeping them confined to the home, gender equality, and not excluding them from decision-making centers."

Iman Kayali from the newspaper "Baqaa al-Daw" said: "Women must not give up their rights, and work to restore their stolen status, and reclaim their rights with their own hands without asking for them, and not hesitate to demand them by performing their duties to the fullest extent (struggle) to achieve their aspirations and prove their existence and worthiness."

 While activist and lecturer at Aleppo University Natasha Asfari highlighted the confrontations and the vague fate of women in the midst of changes, she said in this regard: "We are still striving for political representation and activating the women's quota in jobs and professions, and we need intensive efforts to overcome the difficulties facing us."

T/ Satt.

ANHA