Recognising Resilience - Women’s Leadership in Northwest Syria’s Earthquake Response and Beyond [EN/AR]

Women took on leadership roles and changed societal attitudes in Syrian earthquake response

A report by Action For Humanity, the parent charity of Syria Relief, and ActionAid Arab Region, released today, has revealed how attitudes towards women in Syrian society are shifting, thanks to the leadership roles women took in response to the devastating earthquakes which hit Syria and Turkiye on February 6th.

The report, Recognising Resilience: Women's Leadership in Northwest Syria's Earthquake Response and Beyond, launched ahead of the Syria Brussels Conference VII, highlights the pivotal role played by women in the earthquake response efforts and explores their potential to shape equitable, inclusive and sustainable approaches to post-earthquake reconstruction and post-conflict recovery in Syria more broadly. The findings were achieved through interviews with women leaders, focus group discussions, feedback consultations and a digital survey from women across Northwest Syria.

The report’s findings include:

• Despite the ongoing conflict, women were more active and visible during the earthquake as first responders and in ongoing relief efforts, resulting in a shift in dynamics enabling women to assume more active and visible leadership roles.
• The visibility of women during the earthquake response - working alongside men, taking on critical responsibilities, or successfully mobilising resources - changed community perceptions of the societal contributions of women.
  Women, who had previously not participated in community affairs, were able to participate in a range of leadership responsibilities extending beyond the domestic sphere.
• Women took on a crucial role in resource coordination and mobilisation, leading on the coordination of distribution processes and actively participated in fundraising initiatives The earthquake response led to the creation of connections and networks among local and international women.
• Societal norms/taboos and factors still pose significant challenges for women in assuming leadership roles, including restricted movement, and persistent gender inequality. 12 years of conflict compounded by a devastating earthquake have led to the death of many women who were not only leaders in their communities, but an inspiration for other women.

In order to address these issues, this report calls for the following, ahead of the EU-hosted pledging conference to support Syria, being held in Brussels on June 14th and 15th:

• Women at every level in society need to be included in decision-making and peace processes in Syria.
• Greater support is needed for Syrian-led women's organisations, enabling them to effectively respond to the specific needs they face.
• Greater investment in programs that promote gender equality and meet the specific needs of women and girls.

Nicola Banks, Action For Humanity’s Advocacy Manager and the report’s co-author, says:

“In addition to financial investment, political will and resources must be developed devoted to ensuring women's direct representation in Syria's decision-making processes. Women's voices and perspectives are essential for creating a more inclusive and equitable society. By combining financial support, programming, and political commitment, significant progress can be made in promoting gender equality and advancing women's participation in peacebuilding efforts in Syria.”

Alam Janbein, Syria-Türkiye Senior Humanitarian Response and Resilience Manager of ActionAid Arab Region says,

“ActionAid and Action For Humanity have partnered during the earthquake response to address the specific needs of women during times of displacement. For example, by prioritising the rehabilitation of WASH facilities, the intervention ensures that women have access to safe and private sanitation facilities while promoting improved hygiene practices. This approach aims to create dignified and empowering living conditions for women, ultimately enhancing their safety, health, and overall quality of life.”

Action For Humanity and ActionAid are hosting a virtual roundtable to discuss the findings of the report on Tuesday, June 13th. Those interested can register at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/recognising-resilience-womens-leadership-in-nw-syria-earthquake-response-tickets-648045751287