"Death is not the worst that can happen, it is also the waiting": A Syrian report on enforced disappearance
June 29, 2022, 5:37 pm

Syrian mother and her child-Syrian refugees/Facebook page

The Syrian Feminist Lobby prepared a report entitled “Death is not the worst that can happen, it is also the waiting.” The report shed light on the consequences of enforced disappearance on women, children and affected communities, and highlighted the obstacles faced by women in particular, and the families of the disappeared in general.

The report stated that enforced disappearance has gendered repercussions that particularly affect women, as mothers, wives, sisters and children bear the direct consequences of enforced disappearance in addition to the pain of waiting.

It is based on the analysis of interviews conducted with family members of forcibly disappeared persons, most of whom are women.

The report also focused in particular on women in the families of the forcibly disappeared, including those who were previously victims of arbitrary detention and enforced disappearance.

https://syrianfeministlobby.org/?p=2388

The interviews also showed the strong relationship between enforced disappearance as a violation of civil and political rights on the one hand, and economic, social and cultural rights on the other, and how the protection of each is essential for the enjoyment of the other.

The report showed that the percentage of forcibly disappeared women may be small compared to that of men, but they are the most affected by the consequences of crime.

Lebanon urges international support for quick, safe return of Syrian refugees

The analysis of the interviews revealed the gendered dimension of enforced disappearance and how it affects women differently. It impacts them psychologically, economically and socially, as a continuation of the cycle of deep rooted
violence mainly due to gender inequality and ongoing social injustice prevailing in Syrian society.

The interviews showed the families’ deep frustration with the United Nations (UN) and its agencies, particularly those concerned with documentation, as they have been unable to help, protect and support victims or make progress on cases of disappearances, eleven years into the conflict.

levantnews

Yaël Braun-Pivet Volodymyr Zelensky says will join G20 in Bali depending on other 'participants'

BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”