15 February 2019 – 18 women survivors of arbitrary detention in Syria participated in a 6-day workshop organized by The Day After to improve their understanding of advocacy and transitional justice. The workshop took place in Istanbul on January 23, 2019, as part of TDA’s project to support women former detainees. The event was organized in partnership with Lawyers and Doctors for Human Rights (LDHR) and Families for Freedom.
During the workshop, Ali Al-Zeer, a lawyer from LDHR, introduced participants to the concept of transitional justice and accountability. Dr. Mohammad Katoub, Advocacy Manager at Syrian-American Medical Society (SAMS), focused his training on advocacy that explained how to build strategic plan for advocacy, identifying stakeholders, resources, partners, and activities, using media and social media platforms.
TDA’s Deputy Director, Doris Awwad, also covered capacity building training focusing on: leadership, teambuilding, and advocacy principles. In addition Dr. Halah Ghawy talked to survivors about how Families for Freedom has used advocacy methods to shed light on the Syrian detainees’ cause.
TDA’s project Women Former Detainees aims to form an association that empowers former Syrian women detainees and increase their ability to advocate for their cause in media, human rights institutions, international forums, and involve them in the course of transitional justice processes and sustainable peace in Syria.
