Space for Collaboration

• 3 years ago

Over the years, the Space for Collaboration has brought together diverse groups of active Syrian women from local, national, and international tracks, united by the goal of coordinating and collaborating on issues affecting Syrians in a continuous and sustainable way.

Conference Timeline: 

• 1st Conference (August 2014) 30 Syrian women from various regions gathered to exchange experiences and work toward bridging gaps among the three negotiation tracks. 
• 2nd Conference (March 2017) 35 Syrian women representing a broad spectrum of society convened and worked on gender mainstreaming political agenda files within the negotiation process, producing recommendations for effective women’s participation in politics. 
• 3rd Conference (November 2017) Strengthened collaboration among Syrian women in advocacy and coalition-building. 
• 4th Conference (March 2019) 30 Syrian women focused on gendering the issue of detainees to achieve a just and sustainable resolution. The participants produced a recommendation paper on gendering the detainee file. To read the recommendations in Arabic, click here. 
• 5th Conference (Feb 28 – Mar 1, 2020) Brought together more than 30 Syrian women with the aim of increasing cooperation and coordination among diverse Syrian women representing a wide spectrum of society. The conference sought to provide a gender-sensitive contextual analysis of the political process, including the constitutional process and the situation on the ground, and to discuss gender responsive recommendations related to detainees, internally displaced persons, and refugees. To view the recommendations in Arabic, click here
• 6th Conference (March 12–27, 2021) 30 Syrian women gathered and discussed ways to strengthen women’s participation in public life, advocate with international bodies, and analyze key political actors. 
• 7th Conference (Aug 24–31, 2023)

Brought together over 50 Syrian women to expand collaboration and analyze challenges and threats facing refugees, with special attention to the Independent Institution for Missing Persons.

• To read the opening address of the Seventh Space for Collaboration conference in Arabic, click here
• To view the link to the closing address of the Seventh Space for Collaboration conference in Arabic, click here
• To view the final statement of the Seventh Space for Collaboration conference in Arabic, click here
• To read a written memorandum on the Independent Institution for Missing Persons in English, click here.
• 8th Conference (Nov 19–22, 2024) Included more than 50 Syrian women, which aimed at increasing the space for collaboration and coordination among Syrian women in three main themes:
• Promoting human rights in Syria as a foundation for peace and democracy,
• Strengthening the link between humanitarian work and peacebuilding, and 
• Developing protection mechanisms for Syrian women peacebuilders.

To read the full closing statement of the 8th Conference in English, click here. 

The 2025 Annual Report of Space for Collaboration highlights the key activities and priorities the organization focused on throughout the year, including its statement marking International Women’s Day in Arabic and its position paper on child marriage, among other initiatives.

To access the full report, click here.

We invite Syrian women active in civil society, community initiatives, or public life to join a growing collaborative space that connects women from diverse backgrounds and experiences — from grassroots organizers to independent advocates, inside Syria and across the diaspora. If you are interested in becoming part of this collective effort, we encourage you to complete the application form at the following link.

To read Space for Collaboration’s vision aimed at guiding Syria toward a democratic, inclusive, and stable future, click here