On 8 and 9 November 2018, a workshop on "Empowering Syrian Women" took place in Gaziantep, Turkey. The workshop was organized by the EEAS’ Mediation Support Team (PRISM), and was funded through ERMES III project (European Resources for Mediation Support) with the logistical support of the Assistance Coordination Unit (ACU), a national Syrian non-government, non-political, non-profit institution. ERMES is an EU project financed by the FPI's instrument contributing to Stability and Peace.
The workshop brought together Syrian women, from inside and outside Syria, from different backgrounds and institutional affiliations - political opposition (Syrian National Council - SNC, Syrian Opposition Coalition - SOC), local institutions (Syrian Interim Government - SIG, ACU), and a selected group of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Gaziantep.
The workshop focused on inclusive political processes (women’s role in conflict resolution and peace processes) and women’s political empowerment with capacity building components on advocacy and gender strategies. By the end of the workshop, the participants produced a set of concrete recommendations to empower Syrian women and to make their voices heard at the political, local and regional levels, and in political institutions and Syrian CSOs.
The College of Europe, as leader of the consortium awarded the ERMES III project, gave logistical support to the organization of the workshop and provided expertise in the form of a gender expert and a facilitator. The consortium includes five leading organizations specialized in mediation and dialogue: the European Centre for Electoral Support (ECES), ESSEC IRENÉ, Fondation Hirondelle, Interpeace, and MediatEUr.
See some pictures of the workshop below!
More information on the ERMES III project
More about the Instrument contributing to Stability and Peace (IcSP)
All NEWS from the College of Europe Development Office
This project is funded by the European Union