Women activists from war-torn Syria have been a “glimmer of hope” in a peace process that has been very “challenging and depressing”, the head of UN Women’s Arab States Section has said.

Hiba Qasas was speaking ahead of a meeting with members of the Syrian Women’s Advisory Board to the UN Special Envoy for the country.

While women and girls have been disproportionately affected by the 6-year civil war in the country, she noted, they are not only victims but leaders and a strong advocates for peace.

Since 2014, a coalition of diverse women inside and outside the country has been calling for women’s participation and representation in peacebuilding efforts.

Ms Qasas sat down with Jocelyne Sambira to discuss her agency’s role in bringing this group of 12 women together and how they are driven by a common goal to end the bloodshed.

Duration: 4’51’’