Palestinian women mark International Women's Day in Syria


The Union of Palestinian Women's Committees in Syria held a dinner and cultural evening on March 10, 2010, to commemorate International Women's Day, attended by a large crowd, including Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine Political Bureau member Comrade Maher Taher and many other leaders and members members of the Front's branch outside Palestine.

The event, which took place at the Arab Cultural Center in Yarmouk refugee camp in Damascus, focused on the importance of women's role and equality in the struggle for Palestine.

Comrade Wafa Saleh spoke on behalf of the Union, emphasizing that International Women's Day is a day dear to the hearts of all revolutionaries and progressive forces in the world, that is a day of confirming women's status in society with full equality of rights and duties as a primary and central issue in the struggle for democracy and social progress.

She emphasized the sacrifice of Palestinian women in the national struggle and emphasized that the language of freedom and equality of women must be reflected in practice, emphasizing that the PFLP's theoretical and political vision of women's equality is not only for the future Palestine that we seek to build, but part of the daily struggle in all fields of activity, and includes ensuring that women are daily involved as equal partners in all facets of life.

Comrade Saleh concluded by saying that the dream of return pulls our attention and our vision to Palestine, generation after generation, and that Palestinian women would continue to struggle, actively, productively, and creatively, for return and liberation.

Comrade Maryam Abu Daqqa, member of the Political Bureau of the PFLP, delivered a speech lauding the role of Palestinian women in the struggle for national liberation, particularly discussing the role of women's involvement in Gaza.

A number of women leaders were awarded the Shield of the Union of Palestinian Women's Committees at the event, including Comrade Suad Bakour, former President of the General Union of Women in Syria; Comrade Maryam Abu Daqqa; Comrade Linan Abu Ghoulmeh, recently freed from the occupation prisons; sister Majida el-Khatib, responsible for the Foundation for the Children of Martyrs of Palestine in Syria; artist Shukran Murtaja, a theater, film and television actress who participated in the Syrian/Palestinian artists' delegation breaking the siege on Gaza; and artist Nadine Salameh, a playwright who also participated in the delegation to Gaza.