On the 9th and 10th of November 2025, members of the MWMN contributed to a workshop in Damascus promoted by the Syrian Women Alliance for Negotiations (SWAN), formed over the past year thanks to a project funded by the Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs. The ultimate goal of Project SWAN is to build a generation of Syrian women mediators — leaders who will amplify women’s voices in local governance and play a vital role in Syria’s recovery and political transformation after years of conflict
The event was co-organised in partnership with WIIS Italy and COSV NGO and held at the headquarters of Madanieh, situated within the pristine Beit Farhi, a heritage structure in Damascus.
The workshop brought together 25 women from all corners of Syria to share lessons learned and develop recommendations for advancing dialogue by consolidating shared knowledge regarding mediation in complex contexts across the country.
Over two days, participants engaged in dialogues and reflections on the role of women in mediating conflicts, preserving heritage, and empowering neighborhoods, cities and regions in Syria. Key discussions highlighted the importance of cultural heritage as a sustainable entry point for conflict prevention and resolution, and ultimately for building peace. Participants were from different sectors, including academia, political, journalism, civil society, and business.
