When women dare to lead
The disastrous Syrian conflict has left more than 400,000 people dead and caused wholesale destruction across the country. But out of the ruins, stories of human endeavour emerge that offer hope of a better world. They are stories of women who have dared to confront the consequences of conflict head-on.
In 2013, at the age of 15, Muzoon Almellehan walked out of Syria to Za’atari refugee camp in Jordan carrying her most valuable possessions: 10 books. Despite being forced from her home by the conflict, Almellehan believed that the most important thing in her life was to continue her education.
It was a shock to discover she could not go to school in the camp, and that education was not a priority. Undeterred, she set about campaigning to get children back to school. “I told them that you can do anything in life but you must have an education,” said Almellehan, now age 19 and a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, at the Women’s Forum Global Meeting 2017.
Almellehan is working to counteract another troubling outcome of the Syrian conflict: girls as young as 13 choose to get married as a form of protection. She began another campaign, this time to encourage girls to choose education over marriage to secure their future. “My voice is just one voice, but it is also the voice of 27 million children who are out of school because of conflict and war,” Almellehan said.
Crossing frontlines
For victims of conflicts, like Almellehan, organisations like the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) provide aid and protection. The work is hard and often dangerous. Marianne Gasser, the ICRC Head of Delegation in Syria, shared her experience of five years working in the country, including the evacuation of civilians and fighters from Aleppo in December, 2016.
“It requires weeks and sometimes months to get approval and acceptance from all parties,” she explained. It takes patience, but it is essential that all the parties have confidence in what the ICRC does.
After the conflict started there was no water and no electricity for four years in Aleppo districts not controlled by the government. Eventually, a deal was struck that allowed the evacuation to take place.
“What was striking when we went in was the thousands of people waiting for us to take them out. The children were completely silent, not laughing, not crying, just silent,” said Gasser. “You get satisfaction from accomplishing your humanitarian mission, and you draw strength from the commitment of local staff, the people’s resilience, persistence and ability to adjust.”
Above all, a political solution is needed. Syrians are tired. They want peace and stability, to have jobs, education for their children, and healthcare. “They want the conflict to end,” said Gasser.
Daring to make a difference
Women from previous eras also offer poignant examples of daring leadership. Simone Veil, the feted French politician who died in June 2017, is one such leader. A survivor of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp, she became French Minister of Health and the first woman to be elected President of the European Parliament.
Completely free in her convictions, she was not afraid to show anger and was unconcerned with political correctness. “Men were intimidated by her,” said Anne Sinclair, a close friend and former journalist. Best known for legalizing abortion in France, in 1975, Simone Veil had the charisma, determination and courage to speak her mind regardless of the political consequences.
Her great adventure was reconciliation with Germany through the European Union, said Maurice Lévy, Chairman of Publicis Group. “I don’t remember her ever being discouraged,” said her youngest son, Pierre-François Veil.
Disruption offers opportunities
Conflict is not the only problem the world faces. There is upheaval in politics and business. Climate change and rising populations present complex challenges. Technology is turning society on its head.
We live in a time that demands true leadership, a time of disruption that demands women dare to lead in a new way, through collaboration and co-operation. “Women have learned from how we have been managed and we don’t want to replicate that,” said Méka Brunel, CEO of Gecina.
Barriers remain to be broken but attitudes are changing — for example it is now accepted that women may die in military service, noted Florence Parly, France’s Minister of the Armed Forces. Bruno Le Maire, France’s Minister of Finance, added that if gender equality in pay cannot be achieved, then men should be prepared to take a pay cut.
“What matters now is not the vision but the implementation, not to speak but to deliver, not just PR but to mean business,” said Jean Lemierre, Chairman of BNP Paribas.
This story is drawn from sessions at the Women’s Forum Global Meeting 2017.
