Diplomatic Club of Syria holds a charity brunch to raise funds for contributing to economic empowerment of women

Marking Mothers’ Day and the International Women’s Day, the Diplomatic Club of Syria in coordination with the Embassy of South Africa in Damascus held a charity brunch attended by members of the Club and several concerned personalities.

On this occasion, Mrs. Shukriya Al-Mikdad, wife of the Syrian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Faisal Al-Mikdad, expressed her congratulations to the Syrian women and mothers as well as all women and mothers of the world, particularly the Syrian martyrs’ mothers whose sons offered their blood in defense of their homeland.

“Had it not been for the sacrifices and blood of these martyrs we wouldn’t have been here today enjoying security and normal life and doing different activities,” she added.

“March 8 has become the International Women’s Day due to women’s struggle in many countries of the world to get their social, economic and political rights. Women around the world fought for achieving justice and equality between them and men in order to be able to practice these above mentioned rights,” Mrs. Al-Mikdad clarified.

 “Women have struggled to eliminate all forms of violence, discrimination and tyranny practiced towards them. They proved that they are worth to occupy major positions in all fields of work,” she went on to say, pointing out that women’s achievements are uncountable.

“The Syrian women also proved that they are able to shoulder the responsibility of building man and society, as their role is no longer confined to responsibility towards the house and children, despite the importance and sacredness of this role. The Syrian women have become doctors, teachers, lawyers, journalists, diplomats and worked in many other fields,” Mrs. Al-Mikdad explained.

“However, garnering achievements and playing major roles in society doesn’t mean that women don’t face many obstacles and challenges in our country and other countries of the world. There are many women who are still suffering from oppression within their families and societies and many others are still suffering from poverty and instability,” she said, stressing that during wars women are major victims because of the responsibilities they have to shoulder inside and outside their houses.

“For example, the war that has been waged on our country for the past eleven years has left destructive impacts on all, particularly women, as many have lost their husbands, sons, brothers in this war and they have become the only breadwinners of their families,” she added.

Thus, Mrs. Al-Mikdad affirmed, “women should receive enough support by their countries and societies, and the Syrian state has provided great support for women and developed many programs and plans to improve their current situation,” noting the big role that can be played by the civil society in this respect.

Mrs. Al-Mikdad pointed out that this initiative by the Diplomatic Club  of Syria, aims, as previous initiatives, at empowering women in Damascus and Damascus countryside economically and in the field of work so that they can confidently enter the job market, thereby achieving their aspirations and living a decent life.

Hamda Mustafa