The Syrian Women’s Political Movement met with Belgian Ambassador to Lebanon Arnaut Pauls, First Secretary of the Belgian Embassy in Lebanon Pierre-Louis Renard, and Camille Godt, responsible for humanitarian affairs and reconstruction in Syria. The meeting took place in Damascus on Tuesday, March 11, 2025. Representing the Syrian Women’s Political Movement were its members: Raja Tanjour, Lara Aizouqi, and Nancy Nasr Al-Din.

The meeting began with an introduction to the Syrian Women’s Political Movement, followed by discussions about the movement’s conference in Damascus and the significance of this event in allowing its members residing in Syria to appear publicly after years of oppression and marginalization under the Assad regime. Political work had been prohibited for everyone, not just women. The discussion also touched on the crucial role women play in the current phase and the challenges they face.

The meeting addressed the ongoing events in the Syrian coastal region, emphasizing the necessity of keeping civilians out of military operations and holding all parties accountable for violations committed against civilians. Additionally, the importance of forming a transitional justice committee parallel to the violations committee established by the transitional government was highlighted to ensure transparency in accountability and to keep the Syrian people informed of its findings.

The discussion also covered the economic sanctions imposed on Syria and their impact on Syrians. It was noted that lifting these sanctions would help support the economy and promote stability. In this context, the Belgian ambassador stressed the importance of having a representative voice from the Syrian Women’s Political Movement at the Brussels Donor Conference.

Furthermore, the meeting underscored the necessity of drafting a democratic Syrian constitution that guarantees public freedoms and safeguards women’s rights, ensuring that women have a representation of no less than 30% in the upcoming government.

At the end of the meeting, the participants reaffirmed the importance of building a network of cooperation and trust with local communities to achieve social cohesion, which guarantees that the Syrian people will manage their affairs without external intervention.