Category: Democracy
Democracy is one of the three main pillars of the Rojava Revolution and the stateless self-governance model of the Autonomous Administrations of North and East Syria (AANES), as well as the Kurdish freedom movement more broadly, which initiated the revolution.
Democracy here is not the same as the representative democracy model found in Western countries such as the UK, Germany and France, where one person speaks on behalf of a large number of people whose interest they do not necessarily share. This is a more radical form of democracy, which aims to build up the entire society, giving everyone the chance to participate in making decisions on issues which affect their lives.
The most basic democratic unit is the commune, or neighbourhood assembly, which meets regularly and discusses issues affecting the community. There will be a number of committees in each commune which function like working groups to focus on particular issues, such as security, agriculture or conflict resolution. There is also an autonomous women’s council in every democratic structure in the AANES. Co-chairs of different genders (and usually different ethnic or religious backgrounds) are chosen to represent the neighbourhood at the district level assembly, and from there to the city-wide assembly, and so on.
Below you can find articles with more information on the evolving democratic system of the AANES and how people are taking control of their lives and learning to work together as part of a stateless system of self-governance in North and East Syria, and southeastern Turkey.
Evîn Siwêd: The Autonomous Administration’s solution strategy is clear
On the sixth anniversary of the establishment of the Autonomous Administration of Northern and Eastern Syria, Evîn Sîwêd from the Executive Council said they are determined to bring about a political solution and to preserve the integrity of Syria.
‘We Are Hope, We Are Peace’ campaign explains content of Family Law in Northern and Eastern Syria
The ‘We Are Hope, We Are Peace’ campaign carried out in Northern and Eastern Syria aims to explain the content of the Family Law as well as end violence against women and raise awareness among men.
‘Our main goal is to create an equal, just and democratic society based on women’s freedom’
Mekiye Hiso, a member of the Syrian Women's Assembly, said that they have once again realised the importance of women's self-defence with the revolution in North and East Syria, adding that they will focus more on organisation in Syrian cities.
Syriac women take solidarity as a basis
Founded in 2013, the Syriac Women's Union aims to develop women's and social organisation in the Middle East through the solidarity of Arab, Kurdish and Syriac women.
Women and Men Share Power in ‘Co-Chair’ System Throughout North and East Syria
Since its inception in 2014, the social contract of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) has stipulated that all government bodies, including local councils, cabinets, and defense forces, must have one man and one woman sharing power in the executive seats.
Webinar on the Co-Chair system in NE Syria
On May 9th, the Civil Diplomacy Center, in cooperation with Neighborhood Parliaments in India, organized a webinar on “The Co-Chair System in Rojava – NE Syria”.
Women build common life in Jinwar
Women living in Jinwar, an all-women village, work together to build a common life. The village is the place that they always dreamed of living in.
Final declaration of Rojava Ecology Conference published
Last April, a conference called "Ecology in Democratic Modernity - From Resistance to Construction: Perspectives, Possibilities & Challenges" was organized in Qamishlo.
Translation: Law of Democratic Municipalities and the Federation of Municipalities
In anticipation of the forthcoming municipal elections in NES, planned for 11th of June 2024 [now postponed to August], the DAANES passed a new law specifying its system of municipalities and federations of municipalities.
Translation: Administrative Divisions Law
In preparation for the forthcoming municipal elections in NES, planned for 11th of June [now postponed to 8 August, 2024], the DAANES passed a new law defining the administrative divisions of the NES region. This follows the DAANES’ publication of the new Social Contract in December 2023.
Women’s Council to be created in Amed to support women
Amed Metropolitan Municipality is getting ready to create a “Women’s Council”. “Our aim is to solve the problems faced by women and reach all women,” said Nevin Oyman, member of the Women's Commission of the municipality.
