<body><div style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;">
<div><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: </span></strong><br /> CONTACT: Kaitlyn Soligan, MADRE (212) 627-0444, <a href="mailto:media@madre.org">media@madre.org</a> </div>
<div> </div>
<div align="center"><strong>Women Speak Out: No Arms for Syrian Rebels</strong></div>
<div> </div>
<div><em>June 14, 2013—New York, NY—</em>MADRE, an international women’s human rights organization, spoke out today to oppose the Obama Administration’s decision to send arms to Syrian opposition forces.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>“There is no question about the brutality of Assad's regime,” said Yifat Susskind, Executive Director. “Its repression was exactly what drove Syrians to rise up in peaceful protests two years ago. First, these nonviolent organizers were sidelined by the armed opposition. Now, they are being sidelined again by President Obama, in favor of further militarizing a conflict that ultimately has no military solution.”</div>
<div> </div>
<div>She went on to say, “The Obama Administration should be offering political and diplomatic support to people who share a vision rooted in human rights. This will mean creating space for Syrians to negotiate a peaceful resolution to the conflict, prioritizing women’s participation.”</div>
<div> </div>
<div>MADRE noted that Syria is already awash in weapons that will be circulating in the area for years to come. Funneling more arms to the opposition will only intensify the war and further diminish chances of a democratic outcome for Syria.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>For more information, click <a href="http://www.madre.org/index/resources-12/madre-articles-35/news/q--a-on-the-war-in-syria-880.html">here</a> to read MADRE’s Q & A on the War in Syria.</div>
<div> </div>
<div> </div>
<div><em>Available for interview:</em></div>
<div><strong> </strong></div>
<div><strong>Yifat Susskind</strong>, MADRE Executive Director, works with women’s human rights activists from Latin America, Africa, and the Middle East, creating programs to address violence against women, economic development, climate change, armed conflict and more.</div>
<div> </div>
<div align="center">###</div>
<div align="center"> </div>
<div>MADRE works in partnership with grassroots women’s groups to secure rights, resources and results for women worldwide. To learn more, please visit us at madre.org. </div>
<div id="optOutContents" style="clear:both;border-top:1px solid #aaa;margin-top:30px;font-size:8pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;">
<div>
<a href="https://bos.etapestry.com/prod/optOut.do?databaseId=Madre&jobRef=3185.0.202127391&principleRef=11427.0.2176650&email=imc%40ucimc.org" id="eTapOptOutLink">
Remove my name from all future email correspondence
</a>
</div>
<div> </div>
<div><em>Address postal inquiries to:</em></div>
<div>MADRE</div>
<div>121 W 27TH St Ste 301</div>
<div>
New York,
NY
10001-6299
</div>
<div><em>Powered By</em></div>
<div>
<a href="https://www.blackbaud.com/fundraising-crm/etapestry-donor-management.aspx"><img align="middle" alt="eTapestry" border="0" src="http://content.delivra.com/etapcontent/etap_logo.jpg" /></a>
</div>
</div></div></body>