ROCHELLE JUNIOR

Sweida- Katrin Langenhain, a member of the European Parliament, visited the Druze majority city of Sweida. “Women’s experiences in North and East Syria are a model to the whole world,” she told NuJINHA.

Speaking about the gender quota around the world, she said, “Women are given only one seat in most political systems all around the world, putting them in a constant state of competition, as if this limited space is all they can get. This mindset claims that women must prove themselves while men occupy the remaining seats without having to prove themselves.”

‘Why is this situation not reversed?’

“Why don't we reverse this situation?” asked Katrin Langenhain. “Why don't we say that there are several seats for women and only one seat for men? Women struggle every day to prove themselves in order to participate in decision-making positions; why is this situation not reversed? The solution to this issue is to change the gender quota systems that allow men to dominate in politics for decades.”

‘Equality is applied’

In her speech, Katrin Langenhain praised the system of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES). “As we observed, a 50 percent gender quota is applied in North and East Syria, not in words but in practice. Laws and the constitution in northeastern Syria guarantee gender equality in all facets of life.”

Katrin Langenhain also talked about gender discrimination. “Women’s rights are at risk all over the world. Women face many challenges in accessing healthcare, obtaining the right to divorce, working life and gender inequality.”

She also told us that the Syrian transitional government tried to convince the European Parliament that it would contribute to women's participation in politics. “The international community follows up the current situation in Syria very closely.”