Syrian Economic and Cultural Capacity:
Status of Women
A Phase IV assessment
In the chart below, 8 dimensions of Syria’s economic and cultural capacity are shown, from left (“Economy”) to right (“Religion”). Taken together, the 8 dimensions of the x-axis offer a comprehensive, holistic view of Syria’s capacity to govern itself.
The Status of Women is important as a dimension because it reveals how much freedom, opportunity, and control Syrian women have over their own lives, and how much they can contribute to helping other Syrians and Syrian society. The more women are able to contribute their energy and talents to Syria, the more effectively the country will respond to existential threats.
The Question
Women constitute half of the population of a country. Their protections, liberties, and responsibilities are one component of the development of the country as a whole. Which of these levels of development is the dominant mode of this country? (If two seem equal, name the lower level.) The country tolerates—which is to say, for the most part, has not put an end to the following practices:
The Levels
8. The rights of all resident women are legally and practically equivalent to those of men. (This was the highest level chosen.)
7. The rights of women who are citizens, and some who are guest workers, immigrants, or foreign, are legally and practically equivalent to those of men.
6. The rights of women who are citizens are legally and practically equivalent to those of men—but the rights of guest worker, immigrant or foreign women are not.
5. Women have a legal right to education, property rights, and inheritance, but these rights are not necessarily available in practice (i.e. informal discrimination in hiring practices or salary).
4. Violence against women is prohibited, but there are consistent, legally enforced, rigid social rules and expectations of women’s behavior, in the home, or in society.
(3.5 was the average of the levels chosen.)
3. Women are provided for, but are subject to violence or rape by the state, by their families or husbands, or by other citizens.
2. Abandonment, but not killing , of women by the government and their families (e.g., the treatment of widows).
1. Killing of women, or female children, by the state, strangers, or family. (This was the lowest level chosen, and the level most often chosen.)
25 prime actors participated in determining the ability of Syria to respond to existential threats based on the current status of women in the country.
In the chart, higher levels indicate greater capacity within that dimension for Syrians to respond effectively to existential global threats, from Level 1 (very weak) to 8 (very strong).
- The highest rating: light green.
- The average rating: a triangle.
- The level identified most often: a cross.
- The lowest rating: dark green
Level 7: Participants made the following statements to support their assessment of the status of women in Syrian as best characterized as Level 7:
The rights of women who are citizens, and some who are guest workers, immigrants, or foreign, are legally and practically equivalent to those of men.
A Round 2 participant stated (Aug 2016 - Oct 2016):
"We have no problem with treating women well in Syria. They have all the rights, practically. Even the Baath Party didn't discriminate against women. For instance Assad hired the sister of the head of the Muslim Brotherhood, Najah Attar, as a Minister even though her brother is a wanted criminal." (221211)
Level 6: Participants made the following statements to support their assessment of the status of women in Syrian as best characterized as Level 6:
The rights of women who are citizens are legally and practically equivalent to those of men—but the rights of guest worker, immigrant or foreign women are not.
A Round 3 participant stated (Nov 2016 - Jul 2017):
“Before the revolution, it was at Level 6 [the rights of women who are citizens are legally and practically equivalent to those of men—but the rights of guest worker, immigrant or foreign women are not]. Women were treated as equals to men in education, jobs, voting. As of the revolution it now depends on who controls the area. al-Nusra and ISIL controlled areas are different than other areas. Level 6 [the rights of women who are citizens are legally and practically equivalent to those of men] is the closest expression of Syrian culture.” (233081)
Level 5: Participants made the following statements to support their assessment of the status of women in Syrian as best characterized as Level 5:
Women have a legal right to education, property rights, and inheritance, but these rights are not necessarily available in practice (i.e. informal discrimination in hiring practices or salary).
Round 3 participants stated (Nov 2016 - Jul 2017):
"Before the war women and men were treated the same. It's still there in urban areas, but less so in rural areas because of lack of education. Some families also practice discrimination. Now it is worse because of declining education." (232631)
"Especially in the rural areas regarding property rights and inheritance rights." (238341)
"The lower levels apply, but 5 is most generally true. Women have legal rights, but they are only ink on paper." (236592)
Level 3: Participants made the following statements to support their assessment of the status of women in Syrian as best characterized as Level 3:
Women are provided for, but are subject to violence or rape by the state, by their families or husbands, or by other citizens.
A Round 3 participant stated (Nov 2016 - Jul 2017):
"There are 4 regions regarding this. The regime areas are level 3. The Free Syrian Army areas are level 6. The regions controlled by the Kurds and PYD are not one of these levels. IS controlled areas are level 5. The worst is the regime and IS. They can rape, lock women away. She can't do anything. The PYD is better, but they use women as soldiers. The Free Syrian Army is the best. There are some restrictions, but only because of the war." (230784)
A Round 2 participant stated (Nov 2016 - Jul 2017):
"It applies across the spectrum. The government almost institutionalized rape against opposition held towns. Violence against women is practiced against almost everybody. A woman subjected to domestic violence has no place to go. Violence against women is becoming a serious problem across the spectrum." (223911)
Level 1: Participants made the following statements to support their assessment of the status of women in Syrian as best characterized as Level 1:
Killing of women, or female children, by the state, strangers, or family.
Round 3 participants stated (Nov 2016 - Jul 2017):
“There was discrimination against women and children before the revolution and now. The regime established organizations for women's rights, but they were only for appearance. The situation for women is catastrophic now. They have no rights now except in the PYD/Kurdish areas. There they have full rights. Polygamy is illegal in the Kurdish regions.” (231641)
“The government attacks women and rapes them. It is worse under IS controlled areas.” (233911)
“Aside from dying because of the conflict many families kill women who have been raped because the family is disgraced.” (238631)
“It applies to the whole society, but even more to women and children because they are so defenseless, and often targeted in the opposition areas by the government, i.e. hospitals and schools were targeted so fighters were less exposed than women and children.” (232272)
“A lot of Syrian women run organizations. They do fantastic work. It's not hard to imagine them as the future of Syria. The violence is current though.” (233121)
“In war conditions women are not seen as women, only as adversaries.” (234281)
“It depends. Women have a reasonable degree of access to the trappings of modernity in the rump state because it's secular. In other parts of the country, even before the war, it was different. They use rape to control areas.” (239311)
“Horrible things are happening. Rape is happening. As refugees move there is a lot of violence against women, rape and domestic abuse, especially women traveling with children but no adult man. The plight of women before the war was complicated, but education was available for women. Rape is complicated in certain Arab cultures. Even now the view of women is probably better than in certain Arab cultures. The Islamic State is a radical transformation for a lot of people, but especially women. Women refugees often get caught up in sex slavery to pay for their children's passage.” (239312)
Round 2 participants stated (Aug 2016 - Nov 2016):
"Only the government kills women." (225662)
"Half of the population is women and children who are being killed and no one cares. ISIL rapes and kills them. Women are raped by ISIL and al-Nusra to shame their families. They are sold by their families to men from other countries to get rid of them." (228631)
"The killing of the population, disproportionately women and children, or maybe because of ISIL." (222272)