Latakia – In order to focus on the role of women in building peace in Syria and to highlight their unifying power within society, the Syrian Women’s Council organized a workshop in Latakia. The workshop is also considered a response to the violations and atrocities committed by the Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS)  jihadists in the coastal region.

Women for Peace” coalition was created

As part of the workshop, a “Women for Peace” coalition was formed with the participation of eight associations in the city. The coalition includes the Peace Builders Association, Sen Association, Rutuş Association, Our Hands Association, Daya Souq Association, Free Syrians Association, Syrian Social Development Association, and the Syrian Women’s Council.

"Behind every lasting peace, there is a woman"

Speaking at the workshop, Dr. Seher Cabbur, Head of Relations at the Syrian Women’s Council Latakia Office, emphasized that peace is not just the absence of war but is connected to a continuous societal construction process. Describing women as the “chief architects” of this process, Cabbur stated that women, through their social intuition, resilience, and emotional transparency, are the true architects of peace. She added:

"Behind every lasting peace, there is a woman: a mother who teaches forgiveness, a leader who spreads justice, a creator who extinguishes the fire of conflict… A woman is not just a symbol of peace but its real builder. From her motherhood to her leadership in building society, their peace is not weakness but a calm force that heals the world."

Peace is a collective symphony

Cabbur noted that women carry the seeds of peace in their hearts and nurture these seeds with wisdom and generosity across the world. Referring to September 21 as the ‘International Day of Peace,’ she congratulated all women on Peace Day. She further stated:

"The story of peace is often told as the melody of a single voice. Yet, in reality, it is a collective symphony. At the heart of this symphony, women stand as skilled leaders who compose songs of reconciliation and build bridges of dialogue. But for these melodies to be heard powerfully and clearly, they need the support of all surrounding voices. Here, the role of men as allies and partners supporting women is indispensable."

 

Seher Cabbur emphasized that men supporting women in this field is not only a noble act but also a moral and strategic responsibility to build safer and more stable societies. She concluded her speech: "Let this workshop be a safe space for inspiration and communication. Let us listen to each other, learn from each other, and leave here with even stronger belief that by joining hands, we can build a fairer and more peaceful world."

Women as builders of peace

Human rights advocate and trainer at the Syrian Women’s Council Zehra Namura stated that the purpose of the workshop was to highlight the role of women in peacebuilding and ensure that participants become more effective leaders by addressing their needs in this field.

Engineer Fedva İyd from the Rutuş Association expressed her belief that women are peacebuilders everywhere and play a stronger role than men due to their significant influence on society.

The workshop is regarded as an important step toward empowering women, increasing their presence in peace processes, and building a democratic order that includes the rights of all social groups.