‘Ahfad Ishtar’ Institute seeks to reach solutions to Syrian woman’s problems

Women are often the targets of all forms of violence, not only in times of conflict but also in ordinary time because the global culture of discrimination against women allows violence to occur daily and with impunity.

The global culture of discrimination denies women equal rights with men and it allows the male-dominated society- in some countries- to refers to religion just to keep their women prisoner despite the fact that religion gives human beings their rights before anything else.

This culture is no longer acceptable by a lot of women, who started to stand up and say: “We are going to exercise our rights and we are going to be active in all sectors.”  

Many factors have enhanced the culture of discrimination among people, so there must be institutes working hand-in-hand with decision makers to confront this culture and to help women to be an active person even in times of conflict.

On December 10, 2014, the ‘Ahfad Ishtar’ Institute launched its cultural and social project at the Kafer Souseh Cultural Center in Damascus under the slogan “Ishtar Scream .. A homeland cause “.

Ishtar is Assyrian and Babylonian goddess of fertility, love and war

Goals of the institute

Head of the institute Dr. Aysar al-Midani told the Syriatimes’ reporter that the institute includes 11 members and it seeks to disseminate the culture of mutual respect and constructive dialogue between family members and society and empowering woman to participate fully in all sectors.

“The institute aims to raise awareness among  women about their rights and guarantee woman’s role in the new culture during the post-crisis stage,” Dr. al-Midani said, asserting that Syrian woman has essential role in rebuilding the homeland.

She underscored the need for considering female captives and women being raped as war wounded.

Add to that, Dr. al-Midani, who is a Syrian expatriate, referred to contradictions in the Syrian personal status law that were discussed during a workshop held before the beginning of the activity in the cultural center on how the law deals with issues related to women.

She also indicated that Syrian drama must focus on the mothers who bring up their children on love of the homeland and defending it.  “Drama must show that both man and woman are engaged in a battle for renewed Syria.”

Comprehensive cooperation

On his part, the actor Mustafa al-Khani said that the ‘Ahfad Ishtar’ institute’s efforts will be to no avail without comprehensive cooperation with ministries of education, culture, higher education and clergymen and etc ..

“As actors we can achieve nothing without cooperation with all sectors to put an end to woman’s suffering in particular and the suffering of Syrian citizen in general,” al-Khani declared.

Lauren Wolfe, the director of Women Under Siege said: ” It’s a crime on top of a crime. A woman is abused, attacked, raped and then forced to stay silent.”

6,000 women raped

Some 6,000 women have been raped since the start of the conflict in Syria in March 2011, according to the Euro Mediterranean Human Rights Network. 

“The 44-month-old  crisis entered wrong ideas about woman, who was sexually abused in the refugees camps that were set up abroad one year before the onset of the crisis in Syria,” Mrs. Janset Qazan, a social activist working within a group to rebuild Syria told us.

Violation of Maternal and Child

She asserted that the human rights organizations in the United nations that work for Maternal and Child care violate the rights of maternal and child because there are a lot of displaced children and mothers in Syria as a result of the terror war being waged in Syria.

“The human right and legal organizations in United Nations must work seriously to drain terrorism resources,” she said.

Qazan lost her son, his name Anzor Abaza, in an ambush set up by terrorists in al-Zabadani area outside Damascus while he was fulfilling his national mission. The foreign-backed terrorists killed her son in a cold blood.

“Syria is a safety valve for the world and it will emerge victorious, ”  she concluded.    

In all, the Syrian government is doing its utmost to alleviate the suffering of Syrian people despite the unfair sanctions on Syria and the continuity of terror attacks nationwide.

Reported by: Basma Qaddour