9 March 2020 – To mark the occasion of International Women’s Day, women representatives of Syrian civil society organizations came together to discuss challenges and put forth solutions related to women’s empowerment in the workplace.
Despite making up the majority of staff in the non-profit sector worldwide, women remain underrepresented in leadership positions and on the boards of organizations.
The meeting, which took place on 9 March in Istanbul, focused primarily on policies and procedures that promote gender equality and prevent harassment and discrimination, such as sexual harassment and anti-bullying policies. “It’s important that organizations not only establish these policies, but also enforce them and help staff understand them through training sessions, awareness meetings, and printed material disseminated to all staff,” said Myra Abdallah, journalist and Head of Media Department for the Arab Foundation for Freedoms and Equality, who led the event.
Participants also tackled the causes and consequences of the lack of women in leadership positions and the importance of mobilizing the support of male colleagues. Finally, the group ended the day by developing a set of recommendations that organizations can adopt to ensure a gender-equal and gender-sensitive work environment.
While the recommendations focus primarily on safety and equality for CSO staff, they also address the need to adopt a gender-sensitive approach when working with beneficiaries, particularly those who have experienced trauma such as gender-based violence or arbitrary detention. “Staff who work with survivors of violence and trauma need sensitivity training to understand how to address sensitive topics and avoid re-traumatization,” said Hanan Halimah, program manager at The Day After and co-organizer of the event.
