Qamishlo seminar discusses integration, women’s rights

The Women’s Movements and Organizations Joint Activities Platform organized a dialogue seminar on Thursday at Al-Qira'a (The Reading) Park in Qamishlo, titled “The Integration Process and Women’s Gains: Between Reality and Aspiration.” The seminar was attended by representatives of women’s movements and organizations, women’s rights activists, and Qamishlo District Director Jihan Hessam.

The seminar addressed two main topics: the first focused on the course of the integration process and its social and cultural dimensions, while the second examined integration mechanisms and implementation frameworks, alongside the status of women’s participation, ways to protect their gains, and ensuring their participation in decision-making positions.

Qamishlo District Director Jihan Hessam presented the first topic, saying, “We have been working for nine months on an agreement between us and the government. This is a reality that has been built and revived through considerable effort. In practical terms, we face some obstacles, as is the case throughout Syria. Regarding the integration process, there are many who seek to undermine it from within and outside, but our organization is strong and no one can derail it.”

She added, “There are established principles and standards that we must uphold. If we fail to do so, our children will hold us accountable in the future. We are determined to adhere to them and continue our resistance. Everyone must resist, because what has been achieved today did not come easily, and we must safeguard all our gains.”

She noted, “Regarding women’s issues, women’s participation in our areas is among the highest compared with other governorates. This in itself is a major achievement under a patriarchal and male-dominated system. We must challenge this mentality and raise women’s voices.”

She pointed out that the Women’s Protection Units (YPJ) are among women’s most important gains, having been established as an independent force under the most difficult circumstances. Many have attempted to dismantle and fragment the force, but it has resisted and maintained its independence.

She stressed, “If we abandon our gains, we will lose ground. Therefore, we must stand together. We are a model of Syria’s mosaic, and there are those who want to apply our experience in Sweida and other areas. We must therefore stand united. If we succeed, our model will spread across Syria.”

She explained that their struggle should focus on culture, women’s quotas, language and identity, and that they should devote all their efforts to these issues and not let this historic opportunity slip away.

She concluded, “My hope is that all women will unite and stand together in this process. Our model is based on diversity, and everyone’s attention is focused on us. We must live up to our responsibility and the trust our people have placed in us.”

The second topic was presented by Rojhat Khalil, an administrator at the Family and Housing Office, who said, “We are going through a critical phase in Syria’s history that requires us to discuss the future of women not from a reactive position, but from the standpoint of shaping a genuine partnership. When we talk about integration, we are not talking merely about institutions and powers, but about the future, rights and gains of a broad segment of society, particularly women.”

She added, “We discussed the legal framework concerning women and their struggle to preserve their gains. Women’s participation should not be measured by numbers alone, but by the extent of their influence in decision-making positions. Integration should not be viewed merely as the transfer of employees or the merging of administrative structures, but as the convergence of legal, administrative and social systems.”

She noted that abolishing the Women’s Authority or marginalizing its role would deprive women of a specialized body responsible for formulating policies. She stressed that symbolic representation alone is not enough without genuine powers and effective participation in decision-making, particularly amid differing views on family issues and civil rights.

She concluded by stressing that the aspirations include clear constitutional guarantees of equality and non-discrimination, protection of the legal and institutional gains achieved by women, and ensuring their meaningful participation in drafting the constitution and laws.

A discussion session was then opened, with participants raising questions about whether women’s participation should be measured by their numbers or by the extent of their influence in decision-making positions, and what indicators could demonstrate that the integration process had moved from promises to reality. The speakers responded to the questions raised.

ANHA