More than a week has passed since the government issued clarifications on who qualifies for government support. Even though these clarifications violate the Syrian constitution and make clear the Syrian government’s widespread use of economic violence against women i.e. denying women government support, many have been strangely silent on the issue. Why have all groups concerned with women, women’s rights and human rights in Syria not issued a single word or statement on this issue?

The Syrian government has once again confirmed its policy, which we have been saying all along denies women government support in its clarifications issued by the Minister of Local Administration and published in the Syrian newspaper “al Watan”. However, the idea of government support is laughable to begin with - since only those on the brink of starvation qualify

While the whole world, with rare notorious exceptions like Somalia and Afghanistan, is moving towards actual elimination of all forms of violence and discrimination against women, the Syrian government has chosen the totally opposite path.