Topic: 2024-Unpaid Care and Domestic Work
Country: Syrian Arab Republic
Delegate Name: Katie Macey
The role of women in society is reflective of the cultural values of the nation to which they belong. In order to respect a nation’s sovereignty, its cultural values and practices should not be interfered with or criticized by foreign nations. The Syrian Arab Republic aims to protect the sovereignty of individual nations and their right to maintain their respective cultural traditions, societal norms, and legal frameworks.
While the Syrian Arab Republic is a secular state, the constitution recognizes that Islam is the religion of the President, and specifies that Islamic jurisprudence shall serve as a key source for legislation. As outlined by Islamic Sharia principles and the Syrian Personal Status Law, the role of men in the family is generally understood to be the provider, while women have traditionally been caregivers. These roles are both understood to be necessary to ensure the wellbeing of families. Although it is the perspective of some that these roles restrict the education of women, education is a guaranteed right of all citizens under the Syrian constitution.
Throughout history, women in Islamic societies, including Syria, have been central as familial caregivers, a role which contributes to the stability and cohesion of communities. The absence of women from this role could potentially disrupt familial and societal structures.
As domestic work is traditionally seen as part of a woman’s role within the family structure, compensation for domestic work or caregiving is not recognized under Syrian law. The Syrian Arab Republic believes that domestic work should be motivated by a sense of and commitment to familial responsibility, rather than for financial gain. It is because of these principles that domestic work in Syria is not a compensated form of labor.
While maintaining that Syrian culture and domestic policies should not face interference by foreign states, the Syrian Arab Republic acknowledges that other nations may not share the same cultural values and societal norms. Despite these differences, the United Nations does not have the authority to intervene in matters that are within the domestic jurisdiction of any state, as stated by Article 2(7) in the Purposes and Principles section of the United Nations Charter. This protection granted by the UN Charter should not be infringed upon, even in the face of cultural or ideological differences.
When creating a framework for international regulations on the role of women, local customs and cultural norms must be respected. The disregard of societal norms of individual nations by international agreements is disrespectful to the cultural values of those nations and undermines the principle of national sovereignty. The Syrian Arab Republic urges this body to be mindful of the varying cultures, traditions, and societal structures present in different countries, and not to overlook these components in the name of a definition of equality rooted in a particular set of beliefs.
Works Cited
Personal Status – Syrian Legal Platform. https://www.legal-sy.org/en/personal-status/. Accessed 16 Nov. 2024.
“Purposes and Principles of the UN (Chapter I of UN Charter).” Security Council, https://main.un.org/securitycouncil/en/content/purposes-and-principles-un-chapter-i-un-charter. Accessed 16 Nov. 2024.
“Syrian Arab Republic 2012 Constitution.” Constitute, https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Syria_2012. Accessed 16 Nov. 2024.
Syria, www.undp.org/sites/g/files/zskgke326/files/migration/arabstates/Syria.Summary.19.Eng_0.pdf. Accessed 17 Nov. 2024.
“Syria.” United States Department of State, 24 June 2024, https://www.state.gov/reports/2023-report-on-international-religious-freedom/syria/#:~:text=to%20religious%20freedom.-,The%20constitution%20declares%20the%20state%20shall%20respect%20all%20religions%20and,republic.%E2%80%9D%20The%20constitution%20states%20Islamic. Accessed 16 Nov. 2024.
“Syria.” The World Factbook, https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/syria/. Accessed 17 Nov. 2024.
