Syria’s lone female minister
Hind Kabawat, Syria’s minister for social affairs and labour, is the only female in the transitional government navigating the country’s fragile shift from war to peace. On her first day in office, she asked, “Why are there no more women?” highlighting the gender imbalance in President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s cabinet.
Sectarian violence has marked the early months of the transitional government, with many minority communities blaming government forces. Once an opposition leader in exile, Kabawat acknowledges mistakes since al-Sharaa’s rebel forces swept into Damascus on 8 December 2024, ending decades of Assad family rule. “Mistakes happen in transition,” she says.
Focus on vulnerable citizens
Kabawat oversees Syria’s most vulnerable populations, including orphans, widows, and families of those who disappeared under the Assad regime. She also tackles the urgent challenge of creating jobs and housing for millions displaced during nearly 14 years of civil war, while easing the suffering caused by renewed clashes among communities.
The UN estimates that 90% of Syrians live below the poverty line. The World Bank projects that rebuilding Syria will cost at least $200bn (£145bn).
On-the-ground efforts
In early January, Kabawat visited shelters in Aleppo after clashes between government forces and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces. Last summer, she delivered aid to a Druze-majority city affected by sectarian violence. She has also reached out to families of Alawite women who reported abuse by armed men.
Kabawat insists that inquiries into crimes committed during the violence are underway and that many perpetrators are now in prison. She stresses dialogue as her key tool in rebuilding trust between communities and the government.
Promoting women’s participation
Kabawat also campaigns for greater female representation. In Idlib, she encouraged women to strategically pursue political office after indirect elections yielded only 4% female representation nationwide. “I am not here for window dressing,” she says. “I feel like a citizen of Syria… The minute I start feeling like I’m a minority or a woman, I lose my legitimacy.”
Women across Syria continue to play leadership roles, from civil society to provincial governments. Former students of Kabawat’s women-led organisation, Tastakel, now push for decision-making power at all levels.
Challenges of a broken country
Kabawat frequently visits tented camps housing millions displaced by war, listening to women recount grinding poverty and the loss of homes. She engages them in vocational programmes, teaching handicrafts to provide income opportunities.
She acknowledges the limitations: “We inherited a country completely destroyed… it’s taking time to build laws and renew the nation.” Kabawat insists on autonomy in her role, emphasising that she will not serve if she loses the freedom to appoint deputies or implement her strategy.
International support and rebuilding
Post-Assad Syria has received hundreds of millions of dollars in aid, with support from the US under President Donald Trump helping lift sanctions. Yet volatility and regional tensions, including repeated Israeli attacks, continue to hamper reconstruction efforts.
Despite the enormous challenges, Kabawat remains committed to her mission. “I see the suffering of the people… and feel responsible for their pain,” she says. Yet she maintains focus: “Khalas [enough], enough of tears. It’s another day and back to work.”
Source: BBC
Also read: Fierce clashes erupt in Syria following SDF-government ceasefire
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