The ‘We Are Hope, We Are Peace’ campaign launched on 1 July by the Sara Organization for the Fight Against Violence against Women, which operates in Northern and Eastern Syria, continues at full speed. This campaign, which will be completed by the end of August, aims to introduce the Family Law.

The Family Law, by securing civil rights and banning polygamy and child marriages, introduces strict sanctions regarding domestic violence and takes measures to protect women and children. It also aims to ensure that family relations are conducted fairly by making regulations on issues such as divorce and marriage.

The Family Law consists of a total of 41 articles under 6 headings: marriage, divorce, the effects of divorce, the livelihood of relatives, crimes related to kinship and families.

Delal Osman, a member of the Sara Organization for the Fight Against Violence against Women, spoke to ANF about the aim and progress of the campaign.

Focusing on raising awareness of men

Delal Osman said: "We started such a campaign to respond to the increase in violence against women. We realized that the campaign would be important because the male-dominated mentality deals with women in line with reactionary traditions and customs, oppresses women and takes away their rights. In line with this initiative, we are focusing on raising the awareness of men rather than women. We are holding discussions with men and deeply addressing the foundation of a democratic family."

Osman added: "Violence against women has not ended. We are aware of the intense tendencies towards women, and in line with the weight of this, we want to prevent the killings and violence against women that take place under the name of ‘honor’. In fact, women also needed to be made aware of the legal dimension. They needed to know that there were laws that defended women’s rights and that it was time to express the reflections of violence against their bodies and minds."

Encouraging a democratic family model

Delal Osman said that the campaign was carried out in line with the introduction of the Family Law and that visits were made to villages, towns and districts in the region. "These visits take place in the form of home visits, meetings, seminars and panels. We also distribute brochures and provide information about every article of the Family Law. The aim of the initiative is to explain the rights provided by the law to women who are not aware of the Family Law and to encourage a democratic family model. The interest of society in the initiative is positive, and the discussions are intense. Many people have heard of the Family Law but were not familiar with its content. We also observed problems related to traditional family structures and violence."