Syria’s Only Female Minister Pushes for Equality and Dialogue in New Constitution
Hind Kabawat, the sole female and Christian minister in Syria’s transitional government, is advocating for constitutional equality and minority participation while drawing inspiration from her late mentor, Jesuit priest Paolo Dall’Oglio. Speaking to Vatican News at an interreligious conference in Rome, Kabawat emphasized that post-conflict recovery depends on civic dialogue across Syria’s diverse ethnic and religious groups.
Before her appointment as Minister of Labour and Social Affairs in 2025 following the fall of the Assad regime, Kabawat worked extensively in peacebuilding and interfaith initiatives. On her office desk sits a photograph of Father Dall’Oglio, an Italian Jesuit who dedicated his life to interreligious relationships in Syria. “He was my mentor,” Kabawat told Vatican News. “He was the one who taught me about dialogue.”
Constitutional Reform and Government Integration
The transitional administration, which seized power in a lightning military campaign in late 2024, must balance Islamist and secular factions while governing a population divided among Sunnis, Kurds, Druze, Ismailis, Yazidis, Alawites, and Christians. Kabawat highlighted a major institutional milestone from late August, confirming that the integration of previously autonomous Kurdish civil and military institutions into the Syrian state has concluded. “We’re on the same page now,” she said, describing the merger as one of the administration’s primary achievements.
Despite these administrative steps, Kabawat acknowledged persistent security and social challenges. A Reuters investigation found that government-aligned forces were involved in March 2025 massacres targeting the Alawite minority, which left approximately 1,500 people dead. In southern Syria, the Druze population has clashed with Bedouin tribes, while the Islamic State remains active in the east with ongoing attacks against state and Kurdish forces.
“There are tensions, and there have been violations of human rights,” Kabawat told Vatican News. “Because of the years of war, poverty, and oppression, some people have become very sectarian.” She added that the country bears deep wounds but expressed confidence that national dialogue and civil society initiatives are improving conditions.
Representation and Compromise
Addressing the country’s political future, Kabawat argued that extreme factions must accept limits on their agendas. “If people are very radical, they should know that they cannot make all of Syria radical,” she stated. “If people are very secular, they should know they cannot make all of Syria secular. We can find common ground: we need to have a good constitution, we need to have a rule of law, we need to all be equal.”
Kabawat has also raised concerns regarding the low representation of women in the transitional leadership. Earlier this year, she told the BBC that she questioned the initial lack of female ministers when the government was formed. She stated that President Al-Sharaa assured her additional women will receive senior appointments in the future.