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Gender-based Violence (SGBV)

A Strong Fresh Start Hasan’s Story

Eight-year-old boy Hasan lives with his parents and siblings in…
The boy was sexually assaulted while playing with his mates in the basement of the building. Two of his playing mates, aged 11 and 12 respectively, tied him down and attempted to abuse him sexually. Aware that the boy’s screaming was heard by a neighbor, the aggressors ran away. When the neighbor informed Hasan’s father of what had happened, the latter beat the boy severely and confined him in his room for one month, forbidding him to play with his siblings or go out.


The story began after a SSSD awareness campaign on sexual violence. During the campaign, the concept and types of sexual violence were duly explained, as well as its negative consequences and the risks of non-reporting. Hasan’s mother happened to be one of the beneficiaries. After the campaign ended, the woman asked to talk to our psychologist as she was in a state of extreme confusion and worry for her son.


She related to us the details of the story. To start with, the major problem was how to persuade the husband to reduce the pressure on Hasan in order to allow him to integrate the traumatic episode, then start the therapy to help him overcome its consequences and make a strong fresh start.


We worked with the mother to enhance communication between her and her husband so she could try to convince him to come to the SSSD community center. The husband at first refused to cooperate in solving his son’s problem, insisting on locking him up in his room. Hasan’s mother, however, was not abashed by her husband’s resistance and, supported by the SSSD psychologist, she made repeated attempts to discuss with him the serious consequences of such behavior on their son. After much effort, she was finally able to persuade him. Though a bit reluctantly, Hasan’s father visited the community center, allowing the boy to accompany him.


We talked to him extensively about the need to consider Hasan as a child survivor of a traumatic event, emphasizing the fact that the boy, far from being guilty, was a victim of aggression. Though hesitant at first, the father gradually let himself be persuaded and finally received our arguments positively. So, we agreed with the parents on the therapy plan.
Hasan was eventually referred to a medical institution for a thorough clinical examination to reveal the extent of his injuries. Tests indicated that Hasan had been mildly wounded, which caused moderate infections. The boy received the necessary anti-infective treatment during which the parents had to observe possible stains of secretions on the boy’s bedsheets and underwear and regularly report to the doctor to ensure a proper follow-up and proceed in the treatment plan.


The mother reported that Hasan suffers from bedwetting. We also noticed changes in the boy’s behavior, namely, an evident aggressiveness towards children around him, especially his siblings, and specifically his younger brother whom he beat in a very violent manner.


Hence Hasan was referred to the CC psychologist who started individual sessions with him. Throughout the sessions, we worked on enhancing the boy’s confidence in himself and the people surrounding him and on mitigating his aggressive behavior towards his siblings. Through regualr follow-up, we focused on methods of prevention to protect the body from any risk one may incur and on the correct actions that must be taken in the event of such exposure.


We also worked with the boy’s parents to enhance communication between mother and child and emphasize the importance of an equal, non-discriminative treatment between children to relieve the pressure on Hasan. Over time, their change of attitude has had a positive effect in mitigating the boy’s aggressive behavior towards his siblings.


Hasan was also involved in the CC activities to help him reintegrate the community, especially after his rather long confinement.


Follow-up with the parents was maintained until confirmation that the improvement of Hasan’s behavior was clear and definitive. Finally, the case was closed after completion of the treatment plan. The boy has now fully recovered and returned to normal life with his peers.

 

An event on "how to protect myself"

Out of believing in the importance of carrying out awareness campaigns on the dangers of harassment, the Syrian Society for Social Development, in cooperation with the UNHCR in Gaza Elementary School in Al Sakhour district of Aleppo, organized the "How to Protect Myself" event from 9 to 12 May.
The event aimed to 600 beneficiaries from the students ( both girls and boys), there have been a highlighting on th importance of reporting incidents of harassment and the presentation of a play in which we discussed ways to prevent harassment and the safe distance concept.
One girl expressed her reaction after the event by saint : ( today, I learned the importance of telling my mother what is happening with me, and how to behave in the event of an incident of harassment, such as (crying out loud - runinh away.. etc ).

A Breath of Hope

Hayat, 39, is married, with five children. Her husband is a professional carpenter, a family trade he inherited from his father. He used to own a large carpentry workshop equipped with all the necessary tools but lost all his productive assets due to the Syrian conflict and the precipitous displacement from Saqba, where his trade was established.
The family first moved to Buquein, where they stayed for twelve months, then relocated in Jaramana, where they are living now in a small rented house.
By a happy combination of circumstances, Hayat began to frequent the SSSD Community Center in Jaramana and attend women’s sessions and awareness campaigns on gender-based violence. During one session, she reported being subjected to intimate partner violence and, at her request, was referred to the GBV case manager.
During the meeting with Hayat, she talked about her family’s prosperous situation before the displacement and the good relation she used to have with her husband. After their displacement from Saqba, however, their life changed completely.
At some point, to earn a living, Hayat’s husband tried to sell vegetables. For that, he had sometimes to be absent from home for several days while she stayed with the children at home. Soon enough, the disputes began between the spouses because he let himself be influenced by people’s gossip, in addition to the impact of the family’s deteriorated material situation. He began to mistrust his wife, accusing her of misconduct and continually abusing her. Naturally, the children were the first to suffer from their parents’ altercations.
Hayat said that she suffered from continuous stress and inability to communicate with her husband and make decisions. Consequently, she was referred to a SSSD psychologist who worked with her on the following lines:
1. Seeing clearly into her problem and make a decision about her marriage: Does she want to stay with her husband or end her marital relationship?
2. Learning relaxation exercises.
3. Training in good communication methods (NVC).
4. Setting a network of social relations by participating in group PSS meetings.
The husband was also gradually attracted to the community center and involved in its activities. The couple actively participated in a blood donation for Thalassemia children, which had an obvious positive influence on his subsequent responsiveness.
Concomitantly, through coordination with the SSSD Livelihood Services, Hayat’s husband was referred to the Livelihood Toolkit Program to help him get a full carpentry toolkit with the aim of providing a decent income to the family and alleviate the material burden. Later on, the man appeared before the special committee at the Jaramana Community Center and obtained the toolkit.
Unfailingly, these interventions had a positive impact on the family. Their relations improved and signs of recovered dignity and prosperity began to show on them all.
As the couple grew to genuinely trust the SSSD team, they agreed that their daughter, who had really endured her parents’ differences, should be referred to the Child Protection Program. A psychologist worked with her for a while and recommended her participating in recreational and informal education activities and establishing new relationships with peers.
“Never in my life shall I forget what my family and I went through during the last period,” said Hayat’s husband about the drastic change taking place in their life. “I was without work, completely lost without my work tools. But now I’m picking up and moving for a fresh start.”
“You gave me back my life. I lived in darkness and it is as if SSSD suddenly turned on the light!” said Hayat, telling of the change in her husband’s behavior towards her and their children.
“I would advise every woman who has been subjected to violence of any sort to go to the Center and learn how to deal with her husband and family issues. The Center helped me solve my problems and deal with my husband wisely and lovingly,” she added.
Hayat became a member of the Women’s Committees and is very active therein. She participates in all SSSD awareness campaigns and encourages women to take their life in their hands and assume their role in community seriously.
“Every woman has the right to live in dignity. Every human being encounters challenges throughout one’s life. Particularly during a national crisis like Syria’s. But we needn’t lose that breath of hope in life,” she wisely concluded.

Starting Afresh

Mrs. Tharaa (who hates to be called by that name) is 38 and comes from the city of Qamishli, Governorate of Hasakeh.
The story began when Tharaa was introduced to al-Salam Community Center by one of the beneficiaries in the Women’s Committees, who felt that it was necessary to help that woman ease the tension and relieve the terrible pressures she was experiencing.
She grew in a middle-class family. The greatest concern of her parents was to educate their children and secure their basic needs. She learned from her father determination, strength of character and challenging life odds.
She pursued her education despite the family’s difficult financial conditions and graduated from the Banking Institute with distinction in Accounting and an average score of 86.
For five years afterwards, she worked as an accountant in a children’s garment factory. She described that period as one of prosperity and emergence to the world as a vigorous, self-made and active woman, able to work in a male society and communicate with fellow workers in a large factory, winning the admiration and appreciation of everyone who knew her.
“I met my husband, who was also an accountant in the factory, and married at 25,” she said. “After our marriage, at my husband’s insistence, I had to choose between home and work. For him, it was either one or the other and this caused a great disagreement between us. It was either the work that I loved and wished for all my life, through which I emerged from my rabbit hole as a powerful working woman, or my family, which I also cherished and to which I was fully dedicated,” she added with evident sadness.
“In the end, I had to give in to my husband’s command and his urging me to quit work. My boring, cold life had started. I used to be a person full of energy, bubbling over with vitality, and now it was all over. I gradually became sluggish, like the unmoving waters on a seabed,” she confided almost crying.
One day, after an awareness session about intimate partner violence, Tharaa asked to talk to me in private. As soon as we entered the room, she began to cry. I tried to calm her down and ease her tension. She opened up and began to talk about her husband’s wrong practices, ignoring her desire to resume work, depreciating anything she did, destroying her spirits whenever she attempted to get up again or learn something new. “Whatever it is that I do, he always tells me I’m a failure, always criticizes me, which is frankly so demoralizing!”
Thus, right from the first session, Tharaa was able to diagnose her main problem, namely, the bad way her husband treated her, his ruthless ways of underestimating her abilities so she would never dream of going back to work again.
I started holding individual sessions with her. We jointly agreed upon the intervention plan which included her involvement in the CC’s programs, attending awareness sessions and referring her to the Vocational Training Program.
Tharaa also participated in the preparations for the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence campaign by doing paintings in which she expressed women’s dilemma. In fact, she liked painting a lot and was good at it, but as she put it, “Ever since I got married I have never held a pencil to draw anything, not even a rose!”
Tharaa wanted to develop her skills and learn everything new in order to prove to her husband that she was able to succeed.
When the Vocational Training Program started, she was referred to a sewing and embroidery training course. Quite naturally, she actively participated and distinguished herself.
Gradually, Tharaa changed and was able to rebuild her character, prove her abilities and talent to her milieu in general and to her husband in particular.
The opportunity came up when her family ran into financial hardship. She suggested to her husband to start a business, a small ready-to-wear store. First, he was unwilling to accept her proposal, since she was “a woman, unable to make a fateful decision concerning the family.” “How would you work in a store in the midst of a male society that would never accept it?” was his main argument.
After a long effort and much insistence, with us supporting her in improving communication with her husband, the man was won round to the idea and together they started their small business.
She began to run the shop and was thus back to work again. Her determination, success and masterful running of the business have had a positive impact on changing her husband’s attitude. Gradually he began to encourage her and thank her for standing by him and helping him out in this crisis. He was amazed to see how well she managed the store and coordinated the work on her own. He even began to help with some housework.
She expressed her great delight with the result she had reached. She also wished to conclude this stage of change in her life by changing her name too and filed a suit to that effect. Her name now is Hasnaa .
Thus, the intervention plan agreed upon with Hasnaa was successful, thanks to her stout determination to have a fresh start and prove her worth.

International Women’s Day 2018

Syria holds fast thanks to Syrian women’s initiatives…

Rural Damascus

Jaramana District, Rural Damascus

International Women’s Day 2018-Jaramana


Women’s activities:
The event started by welcoming mothers and introducing International Women’s Day. Then a video clip about age stages in the life of a woman was projected. The clip featured how that woman enjoyed her rights and performed her duties, successfully playing her role and supporting her daughter so she could embrace her role and vocation as a woman in both family and community. The conclusion ran thus, “No moment of life is complete without you. Thank you for being who you are: a woman!”
Some of the women’s comments were, “A successful mother is one who provides a positive environment for her children to grow”; “A successful mother is able to accompany her children onto success and the obtaining of rights.” Here we emphasized the importance of women’s role in family and community and explained why the 8th of March is an international day to celebrate womanhood.
Then a drama sketch performed by adolescents featured a brother who denied his sisters their rights to education, to work and to choose a partner. A lively debate followed on the concepts of ‘right’ and ‘duty.’ The women’s conclusion was, “A right is something necessary to get, something self-evident that every woman should enjoy. A duty, on the other hand, is a responsibility for something, such as caring for the children and the family. However, there must be a balance between right and duty to live a balanced, healthy life. In our society, women perform their duties but are denied their rights.”
At this point, the basic rights were introduced, the most fundamental of which according to women being: the right to education, work, opinion, choice of a partner, inheritance. Duties were also introduced: husband care, childcare, respect for husband and in-laws, sharing with husband in decision-making regarding the family, etc. It was duly emphasized in the process that a marital relationship based on partnership, respect for otherness, performance of duties and giving rights is a sound relationship upon which an ideal family can be built. This climate has a positive impact on society as well.
Then a young girl shared with the gathering a song about early marriage.
After that, an interactive drama sketch was performed, based on a radio broadcast about the role of women in community. Women keenly interacted. “Women are half the society and are capable of proving themselves,” said someone in the audience. “I’m a strong, successful woman, because I was able to meet all challenges, raised my children and helped them realize all I had been denied,” said another. At that point, SSSD facilitators explained that women have an important role in society; if they do not assume that role this will negatively reflect on them. Women have the ability to actively participate in all social, economic and political fields.
The discussion took then another turn by tackling the obstacles that women face during their lives and prevent them from obtaining their rights. These are, in women’s opinion, three:
- customs and traditions;
- the macho power that each father hands over to his sons, allowing them thus to exercise control over females; and
- ignorance and fear for girls, assuming they are “weaker creatures.”
At this point, we explained that this, even if true, is no reason to deprive women of their basic rights and of playing their role effectively in society.
At the end of the event, SSSD presented a pantomime sketch representing the various types of GBV. The sketch was an occasion to infer and discuss GBV consequences, psychologically, physically and socially: sorrow, anxiety, sleep disorders, bone fractures, bruises, antisocial behavior, etc. The solutions proposed by the women were:
- Nondiscrimination between children within the family, treating females and giving them their rights on an equal basis with males.
- Raising awareness about the preeminence of the role of women in the family and society at large.
- Amending some laws to improve the status of women.
At the end of the event, the Child Protection Club and a group of adolescents performed dances. Last but not least, one of the women shared a message addressed to every woman and every man: “Woman is mother, sister, daughter and wife…”
Adolescents and children’s activities:
The event began by welcoming adolescents and children and introducing the occasion: International Women’s Day, a world day celebrated on the 8th of March by all countries to emphasize the importance of the roles played by women during their lives and celebrate their achievements and successes.
We started with 2 video clips: one about a woman and her daughter, who got her rights and succeeded in achieving her goals and playing her roles throughout the stages of her life, the other about gender discrimination.
The young’s feedback: “The mother is a strong and successful woman who got her right to education, achieved her dream and helped her daughter achieve hers.” Here we emphasized the fact that women are capable of achieving their goals when they have the will and the strength to do so. Women have rights, just like men; therefore, there should be no discrimination between them.
After that, a group of young people performed a drama sketch about a brother depriving both his sisters of their rights to education, work and choosing a partner. The children understood well the contradiction inherent in the young man’s attitude: “He got his right to education and work, but prevents his sisters from getting their rights! How come?!” said a young girl. Although the eldest sister was deprived of education, she refused to deny her little sister this right.
When asked about the basic rights men and women should have, the recurrent answers were: the right to education, the right to live in safety, the right to express one’s opinion, the right to practice a hobby and develop one’s talent(s), the right to work. As for duties, the young came up with: respecting older people, helping one’s parents, respecting one’s parents, etc. Males and females have the same rights and duties and each human being has to get his rights and do his duties.
After that, a girl performed a song about early marriage that deprives children of childhood and denies them education.
The drama performance that followed aimed at defining gender equality/discrimination. According to the children, “there is no difference between male and female; they both have the same rights, and parents, therefore, mustn’t discriminate.”
After that, we moved to the issue of the various roles that a female can play. The young’s opinion was that “women can be teachers, doctors, everything—women are capable of doing anything.” Therefore, women and men are equal in rights and duties and have the right to claim their rights in a proper and informed manner.
The following drama sketch featured a girl who got the high school certificate with a very good score and wanted to become a mechanical engineer, but her mother rejected her daughter’s choice of career because mechanical engineering “is not suitable for girls.” Why? Because “people might gossip”!
The children’ opinion was that customs and traditions imposed on females to work in certain professions, mainly because of stereotyped views regarding what a girl can or cannot do; the fear of stigma is also considerable, thus contributing to the denial of girls’ rights.
Our comment was merely that these are no reasons or justification for deprivation of rights. Therefore, all must claim girl’s rights and gender equality.
A pantomime drama sketch tackled the issues of physical violence, early marriage and denial of education. When asked about the negative effects of violence and deprivation of rights, the most recurrent answers were: sorrow; depression; bruises; broken bones; absence of women in active social life, which negatively affects the individual, family and community, leading to family disintegration; divorce; inability to communicate with others—isolation; etc.
At the end of the debate—and the event--about solutions, the young’s program was:
- rights claiming;
- defining children’s rights and claiming them; and
- raising parents’ awareness about women’s rights (at this point, we emphasized the girl’s right to report if she is denied any of her rights).
The young’s messages to the community at large were:
- “Women are half the society and respecting them is an imperative”
- “In terms of rights and duties, we’re all equals”

Al-Farah Community Center, ‘Adra District, Rural Damascus

International Woman's Day 2018 Al-Farah Community Center


Activity description:
The event started with a song: One woman! after which SSSD delivered a short speech about the value of women and their great role and greeted them thus: May you become more beautiful and radiant each year! The women were deeply moved by the speech and signs of joy appeared on their faces.
The occasion for the event—International Women’s Day—was explained as most women were unaware that there was such a day for women to be celebrated!
The next activity was entitled How can you celebrate this day by yourself? The women shared some ideas, such as going to a place she loves, greeting her friends/mother, tasting a new kind of food, having a new plant reminding you of the occasion whenever you look at it, saving half an hour to learn about inspired women in the Arab world and the world at large.
After that, we presented a drama sketch that represents the life cycle of women and their role in life. The women enthusiastically interacted with the performance. The signs of admiration were clear on their faces. They said that the “play” really represented them and their lives, what they have to do and the challenges they face at every stage of their lives.
After that, two men greeted the women on the occasion of the International Women’s Day by reciting poems. The women truly appreciated the gesture, saying that was the first time they felt really happy.
The “riddle” activity comprised 2 life stories. One was about Oprah Winfrey. Some women had heard of her, so the following discussion touched upon Oprah’s vertiginous career, how despite all the violence she suffered, she resisted, challenged and achieved great successes.
The second life story was Zenobia’s, her achievements and strong personality. Even before the story was finished, the women identified the protagonist and expressed their pride of and admiration for her as a role model for the strong, undaunted woman.
Then some girls participated with a dance on the beat of the song It’s my right to draw and color. The performance was truly remarkable and the women were happy with it.
We then asked some of the women to volunteer for the “rights and duties” part. Two women participated, one mentioning a right and the other answering with a duty. For example:
Right to education " Duty to benefit the community with her education, teach her children
Right to work " Helping out/supporting her family financially
Etc.
The same applies to men.
Some women presented some of their handicrafts and had the opportunity to talk about manual work. They said that even if women’s work is simple, they can always do something, make a difference and are able to participate in the building and of advancement community.
Finally, some of the children presented greeting cards to the women on their Day. We had made these cards with the children during a previous activity. On the cards were written special greetings to enhance women’s self-confidence, such as You are the flower of life,” “You are a sunshine,” “Women are half the society and build the other half,” etc.
At the conclusion of the event, the women wrote down some wishes on a cardboard, and SSSD staff and volunteers thanked them for their attendance and participation.

Al-Salam Community Center, al-Hameh District, Rural Damascus

International Woman's Day 2018-al-Hameh


Activity description:
The event began with the song One Woman as an expression of the difficulties and problems experienced by women around the world.
SSSD then projected a video presentation about the history of International Women’s Day and why the 8th of March was chosen for the occasion. A discussion ensued.
Some women shared personal experiences and difficulties encountered during their lives. One woman recited a poem on the occasion.
A group of children staged a drama sketch centered on the hidden role of women in men’s lives.
A volunteer also presented a stand-up-comedy show, featuring the abilities that characterize women and the importance of these abilities to the family and social environment in which they live.
Women participated with a drama sketch that tackled the problems and challenges facing women in marital life, the inaccessibility to the least gender equality and women’s inability to express their opinion in front of their husbands. Then one of the women shared a personal experience with the guests and the difficulties she faced in completing her education and working to prove women’s ability to succeed. She was fully able to prove herself in the community and told how she finally obtained a university degree in Arabic literature.
We concluded the event with a dance performed by adolescent girls and children on the beat of the song I am half the world, Adam!
Feedback and impact:
The participation of adolescent girls with a dance of their own had definitely a positive impact. Some women’s sharing of personal experience had also a deep impact

Gender-based Violence (SGBV)

SSSD programs and interventions aim at reducing the risks and consequences of sexual and gender-based violence, improve the quality of response, and empower the community to prevent and respond to SGBV.

SSSD intervenes through awareness campaigns on forms and causes of SGBV, as well as on prevention and reporting means, so as to

  • Support positive changes in gender relations, gender parity and non-discrimination, and contribute to ending abusive traditional practices such as early marriage, etc.;
  • Protect women and children from risks within the community, provide beneficiaries with reporting, coping and prevention mechanisms, and disseminate information on referrals and other services available to enable survivors to show up and seek the service they need.

Each campaign consists of a range of activities, each of which includes a specific theme related to GBV. Awareness campaigns and activities are carried out in CCs, CSs, schools, universities, public places, and within communities, targeting women, girls, men, boys and children.

 

Gender-based Violence 2017

The program’s overall objective is SGBV risk mitigation.

In the field of SGBV, SSSD provides the following interventions:

  1. Awareness campaigns introducing the forms and causes of SGBV and proposing solutions to alleviate it, including distribution of self-care kits to both women and adolescent girls so they could meet their basic needs.
  2. Case management and psychosocial support is one integrated process, which begins by monitoring the case of a person that survived or was exposed to the risk of SGBV. Having assessed the case, its needs and the risks involved, the case manager sets out the intervention plan that would best meet the beneficiary’s needs, then makes the necessary referrals, whether internal or external, according to availability. These include, but are not limited to, referrals to psychosocial, legal and health services. The case manager tracks referrals and then closes the case when the beneficiary has received the required services.

The International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women was celebrated by SSSD in all Syrian governorates on Nov 25 with a great event under the slogan We Will Exclude No One! The event included awareness-raising activities on SGBV, candle lighting and competitions, all designed and aimed at highlighting the urgency to stop violence against women.

 

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