Original Coverage & Source Attribution: hawarnews.com
The Nida Alliance (the Women’s Democratic Alliance in the Middle East and North Africa) issued a statement today on the occasion of the 26th anniversary of the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 1325, which calls for special measures to protect women and girls from conflict-related sexual violence and outlines the responsibilities
Today, the Nidaa Coalition (the Women’s Democratic Coalition in the Middle East and North Africa) issued a statement on the occasion of the 26th anniversary of the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 1325, which calls for special measures to protect women and girls from conflict-related sexual violence and outlines the United Nations’ responsibilities related to gender in various political and programmatic fields.
It was stated in the statement:
The twenty-sixth anniversary of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 comes upon us at a historic turning point, witnessing an unprecedented escalation of wars, crises, and tyranny in our region. In these extremely harsh circumstances, the regional Nida Alliance believes that the UN resolution should not remain just a document read in official appearances, but should be directly linked to the reality of field struggles and the experiences women face daily against wars, occupation, and fascism. The narrow security and military peace has proven incapable of achieving safety, and the concept of peace will only be valid if it expands to encompass comprehensive human and social security that guaranties women’s freedom and the self-determination of communities.
True protection for women from gender-based violence is not achieved through formal solutions or seasonal aid; the targeting they face in wars is part of strategies to break society and dismantle its fabric. From this standpoint, effective conflict prevention requires dismantling structural militarization, ending political repression, national and religious persecution, systematic impoverishment, and working diligently to build just democratic societies. The coalition also rejects reducing women’s participation to mere symbolic presence in political negotiation processes, emphasizing that true participation means recognizing women as active agents and decision-makers in shaping the political future, managing recovery projects, and establishing the foundations of transitional justice to ensure their independence and dignity.
This field reality is manifested in various geographies of the region; in Palestine, women are waging an exceptional struggle against genocide, ethnic cleansing, and siege, affirming that there will be no peace in the region without ending the occupation and achieving the legitimate rights of their people. In Kurdistan, women continue to resist marginalization and terrorism, presenting the “Women, Life, Freedom” experience as a regional model in leading democratic transformation. As for Syria, women are struggling with the repercussions of war, displacement, and detention, which necessitates their full and unconditional participation in shaping the country’s future and drafting its constitution. In Sudan, women’s networks and field committees are confronting the horrors of war, sexual violence, and systematic famine, leading the lines of humanitarian defense and popular protection amidst a shameful international silence.
Not far from this scene, Iraqi women resist attempts to strip them of their legislative and civil rights in the face of discriminatory laws, and Yemeni women stand firm against the humanitarian crisis and the curtailment of their freedom, remaining the primary driving force behind local peace initiatives. In Lebanon, women bear the burdens of aggression and economic crises, providing a living example in managing displacement and protecting civil peace, while activists in Tunisia face a serious regression in civil space and public freedoms, proving that women’s rights are an integral part of the comprehensive societal struggle against autocracy and tyranny.
We, in the Regional Nada Alliance, affirm that achieving sustainable peace does not come from waiting for international decisions, but by enhancing cross-border women’s solidarity and building a just peace system that rejects armament, militarization, and occupation. And providing independent field protection for women human rights defenders.
And in order to turn this vision into a tangible reality, we present our direct demands to the international community and relevant parties:
– The necessity of an immediate ceasefire and the protection of civilians in all conflict areas.
– Ensuring safe and sustainable humanitarian access to aid.
– Ensuring the independent and effective participation of women in peace processes and decision-making, while guaranteeing the authentic presence of women in transitional justice, recovery, and reconstruction processes.
– We call for direct support and funding for women’s organizations and local leaders, and for serious efforts to prevent impunity and investigate gender-based violence.
ANHA
