Strong economic position of women in Syria amidst new attempts to provide VAW protection

Notwithstanding the critical conditions caused by the war in Syria, women presence is remarkable and strong, while showing progress at the level of striving to protect themselves and their children against domestic violence. In this respect, that an annual conference in Damascus for the Association of Construction and Wood Workers has revealed that out of the 9598 workers in the private and public building industries, there are some 1598 women, according to daily Al Akhbar. The members of the association called for better direct health services, away from the insurance companies, while stressing the urgent need to amend the government decree concerning the housing of workers, so that it also covers rural citizens, and therefore decreases the financial burden of workers. On a related matter, and coinciding with the International Women’s Day, the Syrian Committee for Family and Population Affairs launched yesterday the so-called ‘family protection unit’ in the northern Damascus suburb of Qadsiyeh. The said unit is expected to provide temporary housing for women and children subject to domestic violence, as well as legal, medical, psychiatric and social support, as well as rehabilitation and training services. On the subject, the unit chief, Hadil Asmar, told Al Akhbar reporter, that the place is almost ready with a capacity of up to 96 persons. Each of the 8 apartments of the building, she explained, can house around 7 people in the first phase, as it is not advised for psychosomatic persons to stay in densely populated spaces. Asmar also pointed out that the building is equipped with a number of halls for exhibition, technology, training and sewing works. Finally, she revealed the existence of a plan to open another unit in Aleppo in light of the success of the first. (Al Akhbar, March 9, 2017)