Women in Raqqa: Decentralization  guarantee for equality, empowering women

Amid the ongoing political and social crises in Syria, the women emphasized that decentralization has become an essential demand to ensure equality, justice, and women’s empowerment in decision-making.

 They pointed to the experience of the Autonomous Administration, which has practically demonstrated women’s ability to manage community affairs and contribute to policy-making.

Rania al-Khader stated: “As Arab women, we call for decentralization to guarantee equality and justice, and to grant broader powers to local councils to enable women’s active participation in decision-making. We also demand the enactment of laws that protect women’s rights and ensure their participation in political and social life, free from marginalization and exclusion.”

In her remarks to ANHA Agency, she added: “Decentralization provides broader opportunities for women to engage in work on various fronts—political or even military—strengthening their ability to influence decisions and contribute to policies that address the needs of women and families, while ensuring their voices are heard in society.”

Sara al-Dakhil, for her part, explained: “Women still face serious challenges, most notably the prevailing patriarchal mindset that diminishes their political role, along with weak representation in official institutions and the absence of a democratic dialogue culture in some areas.”

She stressed that decentralization could help resolve Syria’s social and political crises, arguing that centralization has been a source of political deadlock and discrimination, while decentralization opens the door to participation from diverse components and to more realistic solutions, positively reflecting on social stability.

Similarly, Nour Shuaib noted that the Autonomous Administration’s experience had offered a practical model, saying: “We have witnessed how this experience enhanced women’s role in decision-making positions and empowered them in councils and institutions. This makes decentralization a tangible example proving that women are fully capable of effectively managing society’s affairs.”

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ANHA