On IWD, Syrian Women Key Role in Defending Homeland, Attaining Development Stressed
DAMASCUS, (ST) – The United Nations marked the International Women Day (IWD) for 2013 on March 8th by a call to end violence against women of the world in a bid to enhance countries’ commitment to recognize women’s rights.
This year’s UN “Unite to End Violence against Women” slogan came as Syria was announcing that 93% of the gender gap was bridged in the country regarding education, according to the international report on gender gap published recently by the National Competitiveness Observatory.
Women struggle to get their rights was fruitful over the past years as the UN has recognized the need to alleviate women sufferings caused by work and gender discrimination.
Women in Syria have well embodied and practiced these rights by being men’s partner in all development fields. The international gender gap report has showed that women in Syria have occupied senior posts in the state and have excelled in running different kinds of job.
Senior posts in the government are no longer confined to men in Syria. Women are able now to occupy any post in the state in the light of the country’s policies to achieve equality between the two genders, empower women to be a partner in the country’s development and political process, invest their potentials and meet their aspirations to contribute to building their homeland.
The new Syrian constitution has accorded special attention to women’s rights and very recently, two women were appointed in the post of deputy chairperson of the Court of Cassation, while some Arab countries don’t even give women their minimum rights.
The Syrian women practice their different rights through parties, people’s, unionist and vocational organizations, including the General Federation of Women (GFW) which supports and protects women’s rights.
“Women in Syria have over ages been a basic element in achieving development and in preserving the country’s national sovereignty. Today, more than ever, they are concerned in attaining achievements mainly in the education domain,” the GFW’s head Majeda Qteit said in a statement to SANA.
“The coming generations will be affected by the ongoing crisis in Syria, so women’s responsibility to bring up generations on right and national principles will contribute to building a secure and stable homeland,” Qteit added, pointing out that women are the core of solution and the catalyst to encourage misled Syrians to reconsider their anti-homeland views.
She stressed that the GFW is keen to reactivate projects which help women participate in the country’s socio-economic development in most-needed areas, pointing out that several Syrian governorates were announced illiteracy-free during the past few years, and that many small-sized enterprises were carried out even under the country’s current circumstances to help women improve their living conditions.
Qteit pointed out that symposiums on domestic violence and family organization in addition to women-related activities are being held continuously despite the extraordinary circumstances in the country.
“Celebrating this year’s International Women Day, the United Nations focused on the issue of ending violence against women and urged all governments, civil society and women organizations, media and all concerned parties to unify their efforts to end this “global plague”, she said, adding that this UN campaign has got the support of most member states as it reviews women struggle to attain equality, justice, peace and development.
She concluded her statement to SANA by asserting that the Syrian woman is a unique example in terms of defending the homeland in the face the global conspiracy and bringing up her children on national principles and good morals so as to be able to overcome the challenges of the current era and build the future of renewable Syria.
H. Mustafa