Category: Women
Women’s freedom, or women’s liberation, 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.
Women’s liberation is the most central pillar of the Kurdish freedom movement, and it is no exaggeration to say that the Rojava Revolution is a women’s revolution. There are many elements of the new system of radical democracy which have been created to build up women’s autonomy and freedom, such as the co-chair system, women’s co-operatives, and autonomous women’s councils in every democratic structure at every level of the system.
This is a strategy based on a historical understanding that patriarchy was the first system of oppression, developed more than 5,000 years ago in ancient Mesopotamia, and that all other systems of oppression such as race, class, imperialism, colonialism and slavery, as well as capitalism and the state itself, all have their roots in patriachy – the rule of men and enslavement and subjugation of women.
In the articles below, you can find information about women in North and East Syria, their lives, co-operatives and communal economy projects, and how the new system aims to build up women’s confidence and autonomy. There are also articles about women’s lives, livelihoods and struggles for liberation in the regions of southeastern Turkey known as Bakur by their largely Kurdish populations.
Defending life: Interview with Zenobia Women’s Gathering
There are walls in hearts, walls between people coming together, walls blocking connection and development just like the border between the Turkish and Syrian Nation state, that is separating peoples and cities that used to be one. These days we see how walls can be overcome, with people on both side of the border chanting
The Long Breath of Tabqa and Raqqa
Encounters with Women Between War and the Everyday Revolution.
Women’s Communes: An Organizational Framework to Face Challenges and Promote Equality
“Women’s communes in North and East Syria strengthen women’s roles and organize them democratically, ensuring participation in society. Born from the women’s revolution, they promote equality, freedom, and confront social and political challenges."
The Siege Weakens Economic Activity and Heavily Affects Families
The Women’s Economy Committee in the neighborhoods of al-Ashrafiya and Sheikh Maqsoud in the Syrian city of Aleppo is working to finance and implement service and productive projects to support women and challenge the reality of the siege.
Women build social solidarity in Zirgan
Women have rebuilt their life in solidarity with each other in the village of Zirgan (Abu Rasin), located in the Jazira Canton of North and East Syria, despite the ongoing Turkish attacks.
Women in Deir ez-Zor take the lead in rebuilding community after war
DEIR EZ-ZOR, Syria (North Press) – For more than a decade, Syria has endured one of the most complex humanitarian crises of the modern era, as the war has reshaped social structures and redefined the roles of its people. Amid these profound transformations, Syrian women have emerged as pivotal actors—confronting daily hardships, sustaining their families, and
Women at the heart of urban planning: “Women’s Cities” project
The co-mayors of Sur in northern Kurdistan emphasized that the “Women’s Cities” project is a strategic step to rebuild cities considering women’s needs, urging women to unite and actively participate in public spaces.
Women’s economy empowers liberation and builds a just, equal society
Women’s economy is a transformative force that restores women’s historical roles in production and organization, empowering them with independence and the ability to build a just, balanced society based on participation and equality.
Navenda Jiyan – A free life begins with a connection to and love for nature
It is summer: Harvest time. Here at the Navenda Jiyan Natural Health Center, seeds are collected every day. Plants are watered, bees are fed, potatoes are harvested, and flowers and leaves are diligently picked. The results of this laborious work are gathered in the drying room, where they slowly dried to be used later for
Women take expanded leadership positions in local councils across NE Syria
Women in North and East Syria have proven their ability to manage municipal institutions and participate actively in decision-making, supported by a unified internal system that strengthens their organization across the different regions—from service committees to leadership roles.
Building an Anticapitalist Economy in Rojava
Since 2012, there has been a democratic self-government in northeastern Syria organized according to the principles of democratic confederalism. The social system of the Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (DAANES) constitutes a real alternative to the capitalist system, especially for people and movements fighting for a more just world. The economy is
