In reaffirmation of our recent statement on the events in As-Suwayda, and in light of the grave escalation involving the entry of tribal groups into the fighting—turning it into a conflict among components of the Syrian people, with dangerous implications for Syrian national identity—and amid the worsening humanitarian catastrophe in the governorate, particularly the rising number of civilian casualties, deteriorating humanitarian and living conditions, and looming environmental threats, we in the Syrian Women’s Political Movement state the following:

• We stress the urgent need to uphold the ceasefire, open immediate and unrestricted humanitarian corridors, and lift the siege on the governorate to ensure the delivery of aid to civilians, rescue the remaining victims, and prevent the politicization of humanitarian assistance.
• We reaffirm the need to protect and neutralize civilians during times of conflict in accordance with international treaties and conventions—particularly women, children, and the elderly—and emphasize the obligation to uphold UN Security Council Resolution 1325, which calls for the protection of women in conflict and prohibits their use, or the use of sexual violence, as a weapon of war.
• We call for the criminalization of hate speech and incitement, and urge all official institutions and national media outlets to adopt a unifying, inclusive, and non-incendiary national discourse. We also warn against the dangerous spread of inflammatory videos.
• We, in the Syrian Women’s Political Movement, believe that the state’s tolerance of tribal incitement, the mobilization of clans, and the proliferation of unregulated weapons will have a devastating impact on the building of a national state. This path risks placing the state under the control of uncontrolled arms, lays the foundation for a civil war, and further fragments the collective national identity.
• We call for a transparent investigation into the violations that have occurred, under the supervision of experienced and independent international organizations. We also demand accountability for those responsible—especially individuals affiliated with official military forces, including the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Interior.
• We reject military solutions, as they cannot lead to lasting peace. Syria, which has endured fourteen years of violence resulting in territorial fragmentation, needs genuine dialogue to reintegrate and rebuild after the fall of the Assad regime. This cannot be achieved through military means.
• We emphasize the urgent need for a genuine national dialogue that includes civil society actors and political figures—not limited to religious leaders or tribal and local notables—and that allows sufficient time to reach national consensus toward building a new Syria. Such a dialogue must lead to the formation of a democratic, participatory government that represents all Syrians and guarantees that power is never again monopolized.

Long live Syria—its land and its people

General Secretariat of the Syrian Women’s Political Movement

Thursday, July 24, 2025