ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – The UN deputy envoy for Syria on Wednesday criticized the underrepresentation of women following the results of the country’s parliamentary elections, asserting that Syrian women demand the protection of their right to participate in future decision-making processes.

On October 31, the UN marks the 25th anniversary of the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda, focusing on women’s participation in conflict prevention, peace negotiations, and post-conflict recovery —principles that “resonate deeply” with Syria’s future, according to Najat Rochdi, the UN’s deputy special envoy for Syria.

“This month, six women were elected to the People’s Assembly out of 119 seats contested, reflecting a voting process where women were consistently under-represented from the outset, which could have been avoided,” said Rochdi in a briefing to the UN Security Council on Wednesday.

Syria held parliamentary elections on October 5, with 1,578 candidates across the country’s 50 constituencies running for a seat in the legislature, including 221 women, comprising 14 percent of the total number.

The legislature will consist of 210 members, one-third of whom will be appointed by the country’s President Ahmed al-Sharaa.

“While more women are likely to be represented in the People’s Assembly via presidential appointees, Syrian women expect and demand future electoral processes designed to protect their legitimate right to participate and to maximise opportunities for their representation,” the UN official added.

To achieve these goals, Rochdi called for the lifting of sanctions on the country, the halt of “external interference” and Israeli incursions in southern Syria, and providing the right environment for investments.

“The United Nations stands ready to accompany the Syrian authorities and people in writing the next chapters of a Syria that is safe, inclusive, and prosperous for all,” she concluded.

A report published by the UN on Monday stated that women’s representation in peace negotiations and conflict mediations from 2020 to 2024 was “far below the target set by the UN,” noting that last year “women made up only seven per cent of negotiators on average worldwide.”

The WPS agenda is an international policy framework stemming from the UN Security Council Resolution 1325, which was adopted in 2000, highlighting the importance of women’s role in peace and security.