News Center- The Syrian Women’s Council issued a declaration on Saturday regarding the developments following the fall of the Baathist regime on December 8. The members of the council held a press conference at the April 4th Park in Hasakah and the declaration was read by Sûher Senûhe, coordinating member of the council.

The declaration is as follows:

“As women living in Syria, we have lived for many years under the Baath regime’s nationalist and unilateralist policies that do not recognize the will of women. The peoples of Syria, who rose up against the cruel regime in 2011, have faced war, migration, occupation and ISIS persecution in the 13 years that followed. Women have suffered the most in this period.

We have struggled against the Baath regime, as well as against ISIS, and against all forms of oppression and enslavement. We have paid a high price, but we have not lost our hope to live in a free and democratic Syria. As women from all ethnic, religious and cultural backgrounds in Syria, we established the Syrian Women’s Counsel with the determination to build a free future for all Syrian people. Now, more than ever, we have a strong will and determination to play a more effective leadership role in this process.

Efforts to build a new order in Syria after the fall of the Baath regime continue. However, this process must recognize the will of women, a fair and equal representation of women must be ensured. Because women make up more than half of Syrian society. Only with equal participation of women and all the different religious, cultural and ethnic groups in Syria, we can build a democratic, just and secure country that we are longing for.

During these 13 years, women in North and East Syria have struggled and organized themselves in all areas of life and achieved important gains. They have gained important expertise in politics, economy, self-defense, justice and many other fields. It is time that all Syrian women can benefit from the achievements of the women in this region. These achievements have been gained with great sacrifices and great costs, so it is crucial to defend them. One of the most important conditions in the legitimation at the regional and international level of the new system that will be established in Syria, is that the role of women in establishing and administering the new system in Syria, is guaranteed.

The fall of the Assad regime was a positive development. However, unfortunately the crimes against women in Idlib, Afrin, Jarablus, al-Bab, Serekani and Gire Spi – like killing, abduction and deprivation of basic rights – continue. In these places, and now as well in Manbij, Turkish-backed armed groups continue to commit crimes and continue their occupation.

Today, as we celebrate the fall of the Ba’ath regime, we also witness an alarming increase in violence against women and religious and ethnic minorities—particularly Christians, Alawites, and Druze—in coastal and southern regions. Furthermore, attacks on North and East Syria and heinous crimes, such as the brutal killings and beheading of women, as occurred in Tal Rifaat, by armed factions supported by Turkey, continue. Therefore, in order to prevent these violations and to end the fear and danger our peoples are facing, we call on all political forces in Syria to work toward achieving the following objectives:

· Syrian people must determine the future of Syria.

· The fulfillment of the requirements of international norms and peace agreements; an end to war and conflicts in our region; therefore, a closure of Syrian airspace to military activities; the cessation of all attacks on Syrian territory, and the withdrawal of all occupying armies.

·The immediate release of all women still held captive in the prisons of armed groups in Idlib, Afrin, Jarabulus, al-Bab, Gire Spî (Tal Abyad) and Serekaniye (Ras al-Ain).

·The establishment of a committee with the active participation of women to ensure the safe return of displaced Syrian refugees and an end to the occupation of Syrian territory.

·The ensuring of fair representation of women and women’s organizations from all parts of Syria in the construction of a democratic Syria and in the new Constitutional Committee.

·The implementation of the UN Security Council Resolution 1325; the taking of measures to guarantee women’s participation in peace processes; measures to prevent conflict and measures to prevent violence against women during and after conflicts; the effective participation of women in the decision-making, implementation and accountability processes in taking these measures.

·The establishment of a truth and justice commission to investigate and prosecute all war crimes and crimes against women and human rights.

·Ensuring women’s equal and free participation in all decision-making mechanisms and in the fields of politics, education, science and economy.

·Legal recognition of women’s right to self-defense.

·Full implementation and guarantee of the human rights proclaimed in international conventions such as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). A guarantee of women’s fundamental rights and social rights.

·The establishment of a committee to work for the inclusion of women’s will in public and political institutions based on the principle of equal representation.

·The establishment of justice committees for children who have suffered psychological and physical harm due to war and violence.

·The establishment of an environmental committee to investigate environmental destruction, environmental crimes and to prosecute the perpetrators among other necessary measures to be taken.