Nahla Osman, Director of the Department of Expatriates and Refugees Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, confirmed that Syria has begun consultations to prepare a national action plan regarding UN Security Council Resolution 1325. She noted that the most important aspect of this process is not the existence of the strategy itself, but the method of its construction and its reliance on the real experiences of Syrian women who have faced displacement and asylum.
Osman, in her speech during an open debate of the Security Council on women, peace, and security in the next quarter-century, titled "Fulfilling Commitments Through Implementation," pointed out that the past fourteen years seemed like the complete opposite of Resolution 1325, where women were subjected to oppression and burdened with double responsibilities.
Resilience and Shift Toward Leadership
She emphasized that the story of Syrian women is one of exceptional resilience that is today transforming into leadership. The Syrian government recognizes this legacy of strength and is working to open pathways for participation in decision-making, parliamentary work, security institutions, and administrative and leadership positions, acknowledging that the road is still long and more is required.
Osman clarified that with liberation, it was expected to deal only with the legacy of the past without causing additional suffering; however, Israel has not stopped its violations in southern Syria. She considered the scene of mothers holding up pictures in front of Under-Secretary-General Mr. Lacroix in Quneitra to be a cry of pain that the world needed to hear.
Demanding Withdrawal from the Golan
She reiterated the demand to compel Israel to fully respect the Disengagement Agreement of 1974, withdraw completely from Syrian territories it infiltrated after December 8, 2024, and from all of the occupied Syrian Golan, and to return all abducted Syrians.
Osman, drawing from her personal experience as one of those who returned to Syria to serve, noted the increasing number of women returning from around the world to establish businesses, develop enterprises, restore their homes, and contribute to reconnecting communities divided by years of war.
The Role of Women in Peace
Osman concluded her speech by posing a question to the international community regarding its readiness to stand by Syrian women as they take on larger roles in government and outside it, and for the world to listen to them as true partners in achieving justice, building peace, and supporting Syrian solutions and national ownership.
The UN Security Council adopted Resolution 1325 on October 31, 2000, marking a pivotal moment in enhancing the role of women in peace and security. The resolution emphasizes the importance of full and effective participation of women in peace negotiations, decision-making, conflict prevention, and resolution.
Source: Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)
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