Outcome RAS_D_10.3

Women and women’s organizations lead, participate and advocate effectively in the Syrian political process from a gender and women’s rights perspective

The Women's Advisory Board (WAB) could better participate in and effectively advocate for women and women's organizations inclusion in the Syrian political process. The WAB orchestrated high-level meetings in The Hague, Geneva, and Rome, fostering collaboration with key stakeholders. Through participation in the EU-led Brussels Conference, the WAB members had also amplified messages on the importance of Syrian women’s participation in early recovery processes in Syria. To support the WAB’s role, UN Women provided technical and financial support and facilitated the organization of WAB meetings in partnership with the Office of the Special Envoy to Syria. UN Women ensured UN System actors could better integrate gender considerations into humanitarian activities, setting a precedent for effective gender-responsive efforts as a result of UN Women chairing the Gender Working Group in the cross-border operation. Women-led organizations and activists, operating inside and outside Syria, gained necessary skills for meaningful participation through capacity-building initiatives, including training sessions and workshops. Stakeholders could engage in more informed advocacy using knowledge products, such as gender analyses and studies on women's roles in local mediation.

Women and women’s organizations lead, participate and advocate effectively in the Syrian political process from a gender and women’s rights perspective

During the reporting period, women and women’s organizations in Syria made significant strides in leading, participating, and advocating effectively in the political process from a gender and women’s rights perspective. Through targeted capacity-building initiatives supported by UN Women, 92 women from 10 communities in northwest Syria enhanced their skills in political participation, legal frameworks, and peacebuilding, with 70% reporting improved capacities. Sixty-three women advanced to the second phase, contributing to research that informs policy and advocacy efforts. Women leaders actively engaged in Track II and III processes, influencing decision-making at local and international levels, including participation in key events such as the Brussels Conference and the WPS Week in New York. Efforts to strengthen civil society organizations continued, with new partnerships established to sustain momentum and advance women's meaningful participation in Syria’s political and peacebuilding processes.

Women and women’s organizations lead, participate and advocate effectively in the Syrian political process from a gender and women’s rights perspective

Implementation of this outcome is on track. Overall, Syrian women heightened their influence and presence in high-level fora. The Women's Advisory Board (WAB) now holds an important role as a trusted advisory body to the Special Envoy (SE) and is recognised as one of the most inclusive structures in the political process and as a source of expertise on a broad range of issues related to Syria. The Office of the Special Evoy for Syria (OSE) was more open to the inputs and expertise of the WAB as a result of the WAB’s strengthened political and constitutional advisory role. The WAB has also reported an increased demand for and openness to its expertise in broader civil society circles. UN Women contributed to these results by facilitating and strengthening linkages between the different political tracks and stakeholders , supporting the capacity building , convening and work of the WAB and Syrian civil society, and creating synergies across the Syria programme’s four pillars: 1) political process ; 2) civil society; 3) research ; and 4) coordination. • 10.3A: Number of instances where the concerns/issues/recommendations put forward by women's civil society are addressed in outcome documents or statements related to the political process or other high-level discussions on the future of Syria: In 2022, the European Union (EU) and the SE included the concerns/issues/recommendations put forward by Syrian women's civil society in three (3) instances, surpassing the target of one (1) instance in 2022. These included the press statement of the SE at the end of the 8th round; Brussels VI Conference statement of the SE; and the Brussels Conference statement of the EU HR/VP. The EU and the SE included the WAB in their statements at the high-level segment of the Brussels VI conference. This resulted from the WAB’s effective advocacy efforts in Brussels on the side lines of the Brussels IV Conference on the Future of Syria. As a result of the WAB meeting, which was held in parallel to the Brussels VI conference, the WAB engaged in extensive analysis on the status of gender equality and women’s rights in Syria as well as formulated strategic priorities and messages, which the WAB members then effectively conveyed to high-level officials. This resulted in the inclusion of these priorities in the outcome statement of the meeting and the remarks of the SE and HR/VP. High-level meetings are an effective tool to nudge the WAB towards joint positions. These meetings also increased WAB legitimacy and solidified its role as a key interlocutor in the political process. UN Women contributed to these results by facilitating and providing operational support to convene WAB meetings, capacity building of the WAB, and strengthening linkages between the different political tracks and stakeholders . Security Council briefings have been reported under indicator 10.3.1B. • 10.3B: Number of new or updated position papers and knowledge products undetaken by supported women leaders: The OSE and its work related to the Constitutional Committee for Syria (CC) are more informed about constitutional issues. This is a result of the WAB's preparation and submission of 12 knowledge products to the OSE during 2022, surpassing the target of two position papers per annum (outcome indicator 2). In Q1, the WAB officially submitted seven (confidential) constitutional principles to the OSE in the context of the March 2022 WAB meeting in Vaud, Switzerland. The WAB submitted both constitutional principles proposed by the negotiating delegations during the sixth round (October 2021) and the seventh round of the CC (March 2022). The four October proposals were on the army, armed forces, security and intelligence, the rule of law, sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of the Syrian Arab Republic; and terrorism and extremism. The three proposals submitted in March related to basics of governance, state symbols, and regulation and functions of public authorities. The WAB submitted four further (confidential) constitutional principles to the OSE in the context of the May-June 2022 WAB meeting in Vaud, Switzerland, held in parallel to the eighth meeting of the CC. These proposals for constitutional principles related to unilateral coercive measures from a constitutional perspective, maintaining and strengthening State institutions, supremacy of the constitution and status of international treaties, as well as transitional justice. Lastly, the WAB submitted one position paper to the OSE in Q3. This was a scenario paper which the WAB developed as a consequence of the August-September 2022 WAB meeting. UN Women contributed to these results by facilitating and providing operational support to convene WAB meetings, capacity building of the WAB, and strengthening linkages between the different political tracks and stakeholders . • 10.3C: Percentage of stakeholders and beneficiaries indicating relevance of UN Women interventions in advancing women's rights and gender equality in the Syrian context: On average, 93% of surveyed stakeholders and beneficiaries reported positive relevance of UN Women’s interventions in advancing women’s rights and gender equality in the Syrian context. This result surpasses the 2022 target of 40% by 53 percentage points. According to the annual evaluation of the WAB, 100 per cent of WAB members agreed that UN Women support was relevant to their work (an increase from 75% in agreement in 2021), surpassing the 2022 of 40 per cent. Moreover, the evaluation of the Geneva WAB meeting in November 2022 indicated that all WAB members attending the meeting (100%) believed were of the opinion that the meeting was relevant to their work. The target was further surpassed in the evaluation of the coordination meeting between UN Women’s civil society partners, in which 93 per cent of the respondents agreed that the workshop was relevant to their work to advance women’s rights and gender equality in the Syrian context.