WUNRN
In a first
of its kind initiative, more than forty Syrian women from all walks of social
and political life, convened a working seminar in Cairo to form the “Syrian
Women’s Forum for Peace” between October 30 and November 1 2012.
The working
seminar was an opportunity to forge a united vision and shared efforts to
create a role for Syrian women in all spheres of public affairs – especially
those relating to fighting the violence spreading through the country, and to
elevate peace as a universal value for all Syrians.
The
three-day conference included discussions of the risks associated with Syria
falling into a cycle of violence. Participants made presentations on the
various human rights violations, specifically those faced by women as a result
of the violence, internally displaced women, and refugees in neighboring
countries. Through these discussions, participants reaffirmed the importance of
involving women in peace building to bring an end to violence.
The working
seminar concluded with the formal launch of the “Syrian Women’s Forum for
Peace”, which aims to activate Syrian and international public opinion to lobby
decision makers to adopt peaceful means in political life and to build a
democratic state. The Forum also aims to create a culture of peace for all
Syrians, especially since peace is one of the fundamental characteristics of
Syrian culture. In addition to empowering local Syrian communities to
take active roles in the peaceful political process, and emphasize civil peace
in cooperation with and collaboration with Syrian and international groups who
are committed to a peaceful and democratic political process.
This
initiative also aims at ensuring that women are able to actively participate in
peacemaking processes, building democracy, fully participate in public life,
and work towards a unified vision for peace. It also builds on the
solidarity of like-minded male activists, who pledged to work together with the
Forum.
The working
seminar issued a strategic action plan to achieve the Forum’s goals through the
creation of five specialist working groups:
1. Networking
with organizations and groups committed to the goal of peace inside and outside
the country,
2. Building avenues of communication with Syrian civil
society at the individual and organizational levels,
3. Capacity building and formation of cadres necessary
to undertake this campaign,
4. Empowering civil society towards undertaking active
roles and peace building, and
5. Addressing the immediate and urgent needs of people
caught up in the conflict.
These five
groups have been tasked with preparing initiatives to bring the Forum’s goals
to fruition on the ground.
The conference
is a reflection of the will of Syrian women to work towards building a
democratic and civil Syrian state, with just institutions and through peaceful
means – an expression of the desire of Syrian women to assume their rightful
roles in the country and to stop needless bloodshed.
For more
information or to schedule an interview please email will@el-karama.org
or Zahra@el-karama.org