This event marks the launch of policy papers by the Syrian Women’s Political Movement (SWPM) on an engendered constitution, the return of displaced Syrians and reconstruction.
The papers relied on the findings of a series of national consultations conducted with eight women groups in the regime-controlled areas, in northern Syria and in one neighbouring country. The papers aim at identifying women’s priorities, challenges, positions and aspirations in regards to the the three topics. The panellists include the co-leads on the national consultations, prominent feminist political figures and authors from Syria. Established in October 2017, the SWPM formed out of a collective need to increase women’s participation in the political process. The launch of these papers is an opportunity to build momentum for rethinking the Syrian political process from feminist and gender perspectives.
About the speakers
Kholoud Mansour is a researcher and consultant from Syria. Her work spans across humanitarian and development responses, the UN system, women's political participation, civil society, refugees and migration, and transitional justice. She has published and worked as a senior consultant for leading think tanks, UN agencies and international organisations such as Chatham House, Overseas Development Institute, and DanChurchAid.
Wejdan Nassif is a co-founding member of the Syrian Women’s Political Movement (SWPM). Since 2015, she has been a member of the Follow Up Committee of the Syrian Women’s Network. Additionally, Wejdan is an accomplished author, having published several original works, including Lettres De Syrie and A Vau L'Eau.
Lina Wafai is a co-founder of the Syrian Women’s Political Movement (SWPM). Lina participates in Mwatana and was a member of the Syrian Women’s Initiative for Peace and Democracy, a UN and SWN collaboration. After being wrongfully dismissed from her job in 2006 because she was a signatory to Beirut-Damascus Declaration, Lina opened a private engineering practice from 2007 to 2013.
Marsha Henry (chair) is Interim Director of the Centre for Women, Peace and Security and Associate Professor at the Department of Gender Studies, LSE.