Abstract

This report examines the dynamics of anti-gender backlash against women in Syria between 2011 and 2026, exploring how conflict, authoritarianism, and political transition have shaped women’s rights, participation, and feminist activism. Drawing on an intersectional, political economy, and decolonial feminist framework, the study analyzes the institutional, legal, social, and political mechanisms that reinforce gender inequalities and restrict women’s agency. It highlights the role of violence, displacement, religious and moral narratives, and institutional exclusion in undermining women’s political representation and access to rights. The report also examines the challenges facing feminist and women’s rights organizations, documenting strategies of resistance through advocacy, documentation, collective organizing, and local and international networks. It situates these developments within Syria’s broader political transformations and ongoing struggles for gender equality and inclusive citizenship.

Author: Syrian Center for Policy Research (SCPR)

Date: August 2026