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.
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
North East Syria Diary: 8 years of Free Raqqa
When I first visited Raqqa in 2022 with friends from the Internationalist Commune in Rojava, the consequences of the fight against the Islamic State were still evident everywhere: collapsed houses between the open rows of shops in the city center and bullet holes in the walls of many buildings. But the city also radiated something
New era of female leadership emerges in Raqqa
Women are writing new chapters of success after eight years of continuous struggle in Raqqa. Today, women are taking the lead in communes, councils, and institutions, actively participating in areas of protection, security, and politics. Their testimonies confirm that what has been achieved in North and East Syria should serve as a launching point for a nationwide women's revolution across the entire country.
Hevrin Khalaf and the spirit of the democratic nation
Days after Turkey’s invasion of Rojava, Kurdish politician Hevrin Khalaf was assassinated. In this interview from 2018 she shares her thoughts on the Rojava revolution.
Young women from Raqqa are carrying the legacy they inherited through the art of plaster into the future
The Free Women’s Foundation, through the plaster handicrafts trainings it organizes in Raqqa, aims both to provide young women with a profession and to revive the cultural heritage of the region.
Women Protect the Environment Through Democratic Municipalities
In the Jazira region of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria, women play an active role in municipal work, contributing to the protection of the environment and life through a democratic administrative model.
Communes: Cornerstone of democratic society
Communes in North and East Syria are regarded as the cornerstone of organizing daily life. They operate under a co-chair system and comprise 12 committees designed to build a cohesive democratic society, resolve problems through dialogue, and foster popular solidarity.
13 years ago, the Rojava Revolution
19 July 2025 marked the 13th anniversary of the Rojava Revolution.
