gisw13_chapters

syriaWomen’s rights, gender and ICTs in SyriaHanadi TraifehIntroductionSyria has witnessed fast-paced developments thathave affected the different political, economic,social and cultural aspects of the country. These developmentsled in some cases to the advancementof women’s rights and offered women new opportunitiesin becoming increasingly active in theirsociety. Yet it is still obvious that Syrian society isa masculine society, where women continue strugglingto earn their full and equal rights.Information and communications technologies(ICTs) have offered Syrian women many powerfultools to organise, mobilise and fight for their rightsand equality. Many initiatives have leveraged the increasinglyubiquitous access to the internet in thecountry to advocate their causes of gender equalityand participation. A prominent example is Musawa 1(Equality), an independent civil society organisationfounded in 2009 by a group of Syrian womenthat aims to support women’s achievement of fullequality in Syrian society.Policy and political backgroundThe Syrian constitution provides clear protectionof many women’s rights, articulated specifically inArticle 23, which states: “The state shall providewomen with all opportunities enabling them toeffectively and fully contribute to the political, economic,social and cultural life, and the state shallwork on removing the restrictions that prevent theirdevelopment and participation in building society.” 2The constitution also contains other provisions thatrelate to women’s and children’s rights, such asArticle 33 (equality in rights and duties without discrimination)and Article 20 (protection of maternityand childhood).However, several studies have suggestedthat Syrian women still suffer from inequality inparticipating in the political, economic and decision-makingspheres. 3 These studies cite laws that1 www.musawasy.org2 www.refworld.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/rwmain?docid=5100f02a23 www.mokarabat.com/rep.nesasy.htm (in Arabic)discriminate against women in family affairs, suchas children’s custody and citizenship, and freedomof movement and domicile.Despite Syria’s ratification of the United NationsConvention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discriminationagainst Women (CEDAW) on 28 March2003, the country registered reservations on Articles2, 9, 15, 16 and 29. 4In light of these challenges, Musawa, amongother feminist groups, was established to furtherthe cause of gender equality and the elimination ofdiscrimination against women.The story of MusawaIn its mission statement, Musawa states that its aimis to “support women’s struggle to obtain their fullrights, remove all kinds of gender-based discrimination,fight violence against women, and establishthe necessary conditions to enable their effectiveparticipation in the political, social, economic andcultural spheres.” 5 The organisation was foundedby a group of Syrian women, or women residing inSyria, in response to what they considered as increasedmarginalisation of women, deprivation ofeconomic opportunities, and denial of many humanrights. The founding members set out to achieveambitious goals, including:• Ensuring sufficient and effective participationof women’s organisations in any commission orcommittee tasked with establishing the country’sreformed constitution or new legislation.• Establishing an intellectual framework definingthe future of women in Syria.• Participating in local and regional efforts toremove reservations registered on CEDAW andthe Convention on the Rights of the Child, andto ratify the optional protocol of CEDAW. 64 treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=IV-8&chapter=4&lang=en#EndDec5 www.facebook.com/MsawatEquality/info6 The optional protocol to CEDAW (OP-CEDAW) establishescomplaint and inquiry mechanisms for the convention, allowingindividuals in ratifying countries to register complaints or inquiriesinto “grave or systematic violations” of CEDAW. While Syria is asignatory of CEDAW, the country has not yet ratified the optionalprotocol.218 / Global Information Society Watch