Women in wars, conflicts... double violence in more than one form and type

The world today seems like a raging ball of endless conflicts, oscillating between wars, conflicts and escalating climate crises with the rise of authoritarian forces hostile to democracy, which enhances forms of violence and discrimination against women and makes them the most affected by these conflicts.

As the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women approaches, media reports confirm that women around the world pay the highest price for ongoing wars and conflicts, from violence to sexual assault to displacement and loss; ending with the compounded impact on their mental and physical health, all of which are used as tools in the hands of the conflicting parties.

According to a recent report by the World Health Organization, one in three women in the world is subjected to violence, including persecution and physical harm, which is a violation of basic human rights.

Syrian women and the long years of war

Since the outbreak of the crisis on March 15, 2011, and until today, Syrian women have been facing the effects of the ongoing war, including displacement, killing, destruction, and crimes under the name of "honor", in addition to their efforts to liberate themselves from other forms of violence practiced against them, such as exclusion, marginalization, and exclusion from decision-making centers.

There are no accurate statistics on the rate of violence practiced against women in Syria with the control of different forces over Syrian territory, but the Syrian Network for Human Rights confirmed in a report published in March 2024 that it had documented the killing of approximately 16,442 women from March 2011 to March 2024.

According to the report, no less than 10,205 women are still under arrest or enforced disappearance by the parties to the conflict. It indicated that "the Damascus government is responsible for approximately 83 percent of cases of arrest and enforced disappearance."

Women in Iran and Eastern Kurdistan and the Violence of the Patriarchal System

The women’s uprising in Iran and Eastern Kurdistan was nothing more than a response to decades of restrictions imposed on women by the patriarchal system, as the Iranian authorities continue to deprive women of the freedom to choose their clothing, and continue to oppress anyone who stands in the way of their patriarchal system.

The campaigns of violence against women escalated significantly after the uprising, as the Iranian authorities used various methods to enforce their control over women, whether by tightening arrest campaigns against them or imposing the death penalty on many activists, such as human rights defender Sharifeh Mohammadi and civil society activist and Kurdish journalist Bakhshan Azizi.

T/ Satt.

ANHA