Women and War
Syria, Culture, 6/28/2001

" Women and war " is the title of an art exhibition under display at the Damascus International Committee of the Red Cross ICRC's headquarters. It will continue until July 5th.

The " women and War project" which is organized by the ICRC and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent, is held under the patronage of the Syrian minister of culture Maha Qanout and the embassy of Switzerland in Damascus includes creative artistic works of 35 outstanding Syrian plastic artists. Each, in his own way tries to focus on the issue of women at war with an emphasis to put on the human suffering, not on the political affiliations of the parties at war, with an attempt to preventing wars or at least to alleviate the suffering of women in wars.

In a statement to Arabic News, Head of the ICRC delegation in Syria, David Delapraz said the experience of the ICRC in Damascus to use art and Syrian artists to promote difficult concepts in humanitarian fields started two years ago by an exhibition of Syrian painters on the most essential rules in war that is even wars have limits." He explained that " it means in war situation, the fighters can not do what even they want. They are allowed to attack military target but must avoid civilians and essential goods for the life of civilians ."

Delapraz indicated that " that experience was a good success." He continued saying:" Last year we chose an aspect of the ICRC activities which makes us unique, the neutral mediatory, by showing a photo exhibition called " the Golan Weddings ." He explained that the said exhibition shows the effect of a war in a community divided by the separation zones. Mr. Delapraz added that the ICRC helps the bride to cross barb- wires, UN controlled Zones to join her husband on the other side of the border, leaving her mother, father, brothers, behind on the other side. He said: " unfortunately these weddings are not happy occasions as weddings usually are but it allows the divided community to keep links despite the division due to war."

On the current running exhibition, " women in war " Delapraz said that this year, 2001, the issue of " women in war" is studied all over the world. He continued that the ICRC who is the best witness of suffering of women victims of war has made a study on this subject. The study will be published in two months. The United Nations have started their own study on the subject. So it is quite natural that the ICRC in Damascus has proposed to 35 Syrian artists, painters and sculptures to express by their art their own feelings of the issue of women and war. He indicated that for the ICRC, there are two issues. First of all is that international laws protect women and civilians and give additional protection to women because of their sex. And the other issue as mentioned before and as will be better known from the study are the special needs of women in war situation.

" I was very impressed and personally touched by the way all the Syrian artists accepted to treat the subject and to accept the rules which give a fixed dimension to their paintings and the size of the sculptures." Delapraz commented, noting that the result is an exhibition which has unity despite the various background of the artists. Some from the Russian school, some from the Syrian faculty of the fine arts and some are having experience abroad and even " one Syrian master artist "Asaad Orabi" decided to participate.

He detailed that with the financial support of the Switzerland and the Netherlands:" we could open the exhibition which was well-attended, and a catalogue which is in itself a piece of art and all done by Syrian designers, graphist and printers." He added saying: " of course the paintings and the sculptures are sad to look at but it should bring the visitor or the reader of the catalogue to think how women in war should be better respected and supported." He said that this " exhibition is our contribution in Syria," noting that in other countries, in the coming months, similar efforts will be done, but by using other techniques.

Delapraz outlined that 50% of the revenues of the exhibition will be used to help women victims of the Palestinian Intifada, through ICRC delegates in Palestine.

The ICRC chief in Damascus cited other humanitarian activities carried out in Damascus. He said, this year in Syria, the campaign " women in wars" is not only the art exhibition. In Aleppo university we had a woman professor from Kuwaiti university Badria al-Awadi, who had a lecture on " protection of women in armed conflict," and the autumn there will be several events to present the ICRC studies and with testimonies of women writers of the region.

Delapraz concluded as saying that it is in peace time that we should know the rules, learn it. Training process in the military should take this aspect into consideration and university professors teach their students about it and that the decision makers to know that " wars have limits!" not only in Syria but in every country strong or weak.

Previous Stories:
  An exhibition of modern Syrian artists at the Herbert Art Gallery and Museum 23 June - 2 September 2001   (6/25/2001)
  Syria in the eyes of Europe: An exhibition by the European Commission   (6/25/2001)
  Goethe Institute director: Personal contacts between peoples of different cultural pivotal for inter- cultural bridges   (6/13/2001)

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