"Syrian Women Observatory" is considered the most important resource on issues related to women, children and the disabled in the Arabic language, and especially the issue of combating violence against women. The SWO contains the largest collection of data on these topics and is considered the first organization capable of bridging the digital-real world gap as it concerns these sensitive social issues.
Today the SWO is the most important non-governmental organization working to oppose violence against women in Syria.
The "Syrian Women Observatory" was launched on January 5, 2005 as a forum for dialogue on social issues in Syria, in particular those revolving around women, children and the disabled, with its primary focus on aspects related to violence of all kinds.
The Observatory relies on concepts of human and civil rights as the basis for its proposals, emphasizing that the connection to "development" is a secondary relationship.
The Observatory opposes all kinds of violence against women and children however it is defined, and rejects any religious or cultural justification for this violence.
The SWO works on a completely voluntary basis, independent of any government or party or organization, and is funded purely through contributions. It does not currently enjoy any legal status in Syria.
The Observatory's work depends on a great number of male and female volunteers working independently from within their own local settings.
The Observatory's work focuses on spreading awareness to combat violence and discrimination against women and children and the disabled by way of its website, e-forums, and a large distribution network for articles and studies of interest to those involved in the issue. It also engages with numerous male and female members of the media to provide them with what they need to produce a sound, informed discourse on these issues.
The Observatory also plays an essential role in the spreading of expertise and knowledge outside of the capital, Damascus, by involving different cities whenever possible in activities based in the capital, or by preparing documentation of these activities for the use of interested parties. The Observatory acts as a conduit of knowledge between organizations and associations active in its field of interest, and also provides them with free media services by publishing articles about their work, as well as giving advice and participating in their activities. In addition, the Observatory hosts web -pages for a number of these organizations free of charge, some of which are integrated to the Observatory website and some are separate.
The Observatory launched a national dialogue on the Syrian Associations Law, which forms the main obstacle to work on women's, children's and disabled issues, wherein many Syrian civil society organizations took part in collaboration (at the time) with the Syrian Commission for Family Affairs. The Observatory contributed to the discussion, and brought it from an exclusive, parochial level to a national one, leading to a declaration of two alternative civil society draft proposals (yet to be ratified).
The Observatory has also participated in a campaign demanding that Syrian women be granted the human right to pass on their citizenship to their children—a campaign launched by the Syrian Women's League and still ongoing.
The Observatory also launched a national campaign to combat "Honor Crimes" (2005) which succeeded in turning this issue into "a matter of public opinion", breaking the silence and making it the topic of widespread public discourse, which pushed the Syrian government to acknowledge the problem of "honor crimes" and to hold a national conference to combat the problem. The SWO is still working to guarantee the repeal of legal statutes which exempt from punishment those who murder in the name of honor.
The Observatory participates in all civil society activities and many governmental activities related to its three main interests: women, children and the disabled.
The Observatory serves as an intermediary for victims of violence, by connecting them with lawyers or referring them to associations and organizations which can provide them with appropriate services. In several instances it has also played an essential role in rescuing Syrian women in danger of being killed.
The Syrian Women Observatory's website contains more than 6500 articles and studies in Arabic, and elso small English Page.
1/6/2009