Podcast Summary: "Hind Kabawat, Syrian Minister: It's hard to be the only woman, I feel lonely"

Podcast: The Interview (BBC World Service)
Host: Lise Doucet
Guest: Hind Kabawat, Syrian Minister for Social Affairs and Labor
Date: January 30, 2026
Duration: ~25 minutes

Overview

This episode features a candid interview with Hind Kabawat, Syria’s Minister for Social Affairs and Labor in the country’s first interim cabinet following the fall of the Assad regime. Kabawat discusses the monumental challenges facing her ministry in a country devastated by 14 years of war, the ongoing struggle for women’s representation at the highest levels of government, the immense responsibilities she carries for Syria’s most vulnerable, and her battle, both internal and political, to enact real change. The conversation is peppered with Hind’s humor, honesty, and determination, and concludes with the personal toll her role inflicts.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Role and Responsibilities in the New Syrian Government

• Scope of Her Ministry (03:36):
  • Social Affairs: Civil society, vulnerable groups (refugees, IDPs, widows, children, elderly, people with special needs – "27% are victims of war").
  • Labor: Job creation, economic recovery strategy, and prioritizing needs.

“There are 27% of special needs and are victims of war and my ministry is responsible for them.” — Hind Kabawat (03:58)

• Initial Acceptance of the Role (04:29):
  • Accepted quickly, driven by the desire to serve Syria, not by fear of difficulty.

“I didn’t think about how hard. I thought then how much I can give to my community and my country.” — Hind Kabawat (04:29)

2. Magnitude of the Post-War Challenge

• Conditions on the Ground (04:42, 05:34):
  • Country "left below zero" by the previous regime; lack of basic infrastructure; institutions destroyed.
  • Scarcity of resources—“not even laptops” in the ministry.

“It’s like a death clinic. Nothing left, institution has been destroyed, stolen. I don’t have even laptops in my ministry. My elevator wasn’t working. There is no light, nothing…” — Hind Kabawat (05:01)

• Funding as Central Obstacle (07:53):
  • Without funding, her ministry cannot provide essential support.
  • Reliance on international aid, which is not always forthcoming or is slow due to legal and transparency concerns.

"Funding for social affairs and labor...is very essential because it is also touching people's life.” — Hind Kabawat (07:54)

3. Rebuilding Society and Economy

• Vocational Training and Dignity (08:29):
  • Emphasizes vocational training and small cash grants for the most vulnerable, encouraging self-reliance amid extreme scarcity.

“Maybe we lost a lot, but we didn’t lose the power of the Syrian people, their dignity. And they love to work.” — Hind Kabawat (08:35)

• International Community’s Role (09:33–10:44):
  • Appreciation for ongoing humanitarian aid.
  • Stresses urgency for economic support to prevent renewed social strife or loss of the young population to emigration.

“If we don’t get the economic in place, business in place, jobs… we can have more social problems. Many young people can leave us now.” — Hind Kabawat (10:08)

• Barriers to International Assistance (10:44):
  • International donors cite lack of legal framework and transparency; Kabawat insists reform takes time after total collapse.

“Of course they’re not right, because we are trying our best… It’s only one year now we get a country is being completely destroyed. It’s not like Switzerland.” — Hind Kabawat (10:59)

4. Trust and Reconciliation

• Mistrust After Years of War (11:34):
  • Rebuilding trust both between people and government, and among citizens themselves; national unity has been shattered.

“There is mistrust. Don’t forget we have the mistrust before. Nobody trusts the government. It’s taking time for People to say, we trust you. And it’s not trust between government and people. It’s also between people to people.” — Hind Kabawat (11:48)

5. Gender Dynamics and Representation

• Isolation as Sole Female Minister (13:52):
  • Admits to feeling lonely as the only woman at the top table, admires other countries with multiple women ministers.
  • Relies on male colleagues’ support, but craves female solidarity.

“It’s hard to be the only woman because for me, I feel lonely sometimes... I envy them. Reality.” — Hind Kabawat (13:52)

• Not a Token Appointment (15:51):
  • Asserts her authority, independence, and refusal to be a ‘window dressing’.
  • Full autonomy over her ministry and appointments was a precondition for her acceptance.

“I am not a window dressing. Nobody can dominate a woman and nobody can dominate me.” — Hind Kabawat (16:19)

• Push for Greater Female Participation (18:52–19:46):
  • Urges President to appoint women; calls lack of women in cabinet a mistake.
  • “I lead by example,” focusing on empowering women within her own portfolio.

“One of my priority in my strategy is empowering women.” — Hind Kabawat (19:09)

• On Tokenism and Legitimacy (22:28):
  • She rejects the narrative of being a token woman or minority, framing her role as a citizen’s duty, not an identity marker.

“I don’t feel myself a Christian or woman. When I do my job, I feel like I’m a citizen of Syria. I have a duty to help and serve.” — Hind Kabawat (22:30)

6. Politics of Inclusion and Realpolitik

• Distribution of Power (20:03–20:37):
  • Rejects notion that only former fighters deserve positions; insists civil society and women played critical roles in regime change.

“No, I don’t accept this because they are not the only one. They helped him because of the women and civil societies helped him too.” — Hind Kabawat (20:04)

• Inclusivity Essential for Stability (20:38):
  • Warns the government cannot survive without representing Syria’s full societal diversity.

“You cannot have one color and one side. You have to bring everybody at the table.” — Hind Kabawat (20:43)

7. Religion, Identity, and Social Change

• On Growing Islamization (21:15):
  • Dismisses concerns about creeping religious conservatism as exaggerated; champions secular citizenship while respecting religious freedom.

“It’s not happening. It’s not going to happen. Because the Syrian people, they won’t allow this.” — Hind Kabawat (21:15)

8. Personal Challenges and Lessons Learned

• Bureaucracy and Adaptation (23:14):
  • Adjustment from private sector’s speed to government bureaucracy; learning to balance and blend two cultures and listen to all perspectives.

“First lesson is to adjust my speed with the bureaucracy of the ministry. And second, you have to listen to everybody because you feel like it’s like a puzzle.” — Hind Kabawat (23:20)

• Emotional Toll (24:26):
  • The suffering she witnesses often moves her to tears, but she views this as a sign of humanity, not weakness.

“Tears doesn’t mean that you’re weak. Tears show that you’re a human. I see the suffering of the people post conflict… Sometime I say, why did I do this? But in the end I say, if I don’t serve them now, I will have more tears later.” — Hind Kabawat (24:26)

Timestamps for Notable Segments

• [03:36] — Hind’s Ministry: structure and priorities
• [04:29] — Motivation to accept the ministerial role
• [05:01] — The devastation inherited from the previous regime
• [07:53] — Funding as the intractable obstacle
• [08:29] — Focus on dignity and vocational training
• [11:34] — Challenge of rebuilding trust
• [13:52] — Loneliness as the only woman in power
• [16:19] — Asserting independence; refusal to be a token
• [18:52] — Advocacy for more women in government
• [21:15] — On religion and freedom in Syria
• [23:14] — Lessons learned in bureaucracy and adaptation
• [24:26] — Human cost and emotional burden

Memorable Quotes

• “It’s like a death clinic. Nothing left, institution has been destroyed, stolen.” — Hind Kabawat (05:01)
• “Maybe we lost a lot, but we didn’t lose the power of the Syrian people, their dignity.” — Hind Kabawat (08:35)
• “I feel lonely sometimes because you like to have another woman colleague to talk. I envy [Qatari ministers]; reality.” — Hind Kabawat (13:52)
• “I am not a window dressing. Nobody can dominate a woman and nobody can dominate me.” — Hind Kabawat (16:19)
• “You cannot have one color and one side. You have to bring everybody at the table.” — Hind Kabawat (20:43)
• “Tears doesn’t mean that you’re weak. Tears show that you’re a human.” — Hind Kabawat (24:26)
• “The minute I start feeling like I am a minority or I’m a woman, I will lose my legitimacy here.” — Hind Kabawat (22:30)

Conclusion

Hind Kabawat’s interview illuminates the immense personal and professional challenges of post-war reconstruction in Syria. Her resilience, candor, and principled commitment to both rebuilding social trust and empowering women mark her as an impactful leader in an uncertain time. The episode offers a rare firsthand glimpse into the inner workings—and persistent hardships—of a country attempting to heal and redefine itself.