Zenobia Women call for decentralization to build a new, inclusive Syria"

Voices within Syria are increasingly demanding a decentralized system that guarantees the rights of Syria’s diverse communities, with particular emphasis on women, after decades of centralized rule that served the interests of rulers rather than the populace.

The interim government in Syria, formed through appointments, currently controls all decisions and ministries with the mindset of the defunct Baath regime. This raises serious concerns among Syria’s communities about their future, especially in light of the brutal massacres carried out by affiliated militants in the coastal region and Sweida.

The massacres in Sweida resulted in approximately 2,047 deaths, including 1,592 city residents, of whom 817 were Druze civilians executed in cold blood, alongside the abduction of 103 women, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Meanwhile, the atrocities committed against Alawites in the Syrian coast in March caused the deaths of 1,479 individuals, as reported by Reuters.

These horrific acts, perpetrated by forces linked to the interim government after assuming power, have exacerbated the fears of Syria’s communities amidst the government’s insistence on maintaining a centralized system.

Simultaneously, women remain marginally represented in government ministries and decision-making centers at a time when the country urgently requires a genuine transition toward inclusive representation reflecting both its demographic and gender diversity not merely symbolic, but as a substantive part of policymaking and nation-building.

According to the 2021 census data, the number of women in Syria is approximately 14.53 million, compared to 14.47 million men within and outside the country, meaning women constitute roughly 50.1% of the total population.

In this context, Khod Al-Ali, spokesperson for the Women of Zenobia Assembly, clarified that Syrian women, particularly in North and East Syria, have suffered greatly under ISIS/ Deash mercenaries but have demonstrated resilience and competence through the autonomous administration experience, where they achieved genuine success especially in political representation exceeding 50% in decision-making bodies and institutions. She stated: “The people rose in 2012 demanding freedom and the establishment of a decentralized system.”

Khod Al-Ali affirmed that decentralization is the true and optimal solution to the myriad issues caused by centralized regimes in Syria.

She stressed that Syria’s future must be founded on a decentralized system that guarantees the rights of all Syrian communities with their religious, cultural, and ethnic diversity. “The centralized system served the authority, not the Syrian people,” she added.

Al-Ali highlighted that women are focusing their efforts on securing meaningful and effective participation in building Syria’s future through equitable representation in drafting a new constitution that will safeguard women’s rights and agency.

To achieve these goals, the spokesperson called upon Syrian women to unite their ranks and voices to build a pluralistic, decentralized, and democratic Syria, honoring the sacrifices they have made to secure their rights.

She pointed to the autonomous administration in northern and eastern Syria as a sufficient example to demand decentralization, given the successes it has attained over 14 years.

Al-Ali also expressed her rejection of the interim government’s adherence to centralized governance, saying, “We oppose the idea of state centralization, and Damascus must understand the will of the Syrian people.”

She emphasized that women in the interim government have not received meaningful and genuine participation through fair and equal representation in ministries and decision-making centers. “We strongly condemn the weak representation of women in the government, which does not exceed 1%, falling far short of the sacrifices women have made,” she stated.

In conclusion, the spokesperson for the Women of Zenobia Assembly, Khod Al-Ali, demanded that the interim government in Damascus achieve gender parity; otherwise, the continuation of such poor representation will lead to a regression to the pre-2011 era, characterized by the marginalization and exclusion of women. “Women’s representation during the Baath government was higher than in the current interim government,” she affirmed

ANHA