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.
What do we want to re-build? Earth as the source of life, not as an enemy
Mutual support has expanded: from the families, the neighborhoods, friends in the region to all around the world. People self-organizing have proved once more the strength that we, the people, have. This proves the necessity to recover the trust in our capacities; the ability to reflect, overcome and solve problems together; the awareness of our interconnections; the relations and actions that put them into practice; the questioning of our real necessities and aims connected to life.
‘Nûjiyan’ to provide safe space for women
The Women’s Office of Municipal Councils in the Cizîrê region has started the construction of buildings to provide safe space for women as part of its ‘Nûjiyan (English: New Life)’ project. “The door of Nûjiyan will be open to all women.”
Women of Tell Necma village keep producing
The women living in Tell Tamer’s Tell Necma village play an important role in animal husbandry and agriculture while resisting the ongoing Turkish attacks.
Aborîya Jin Plant 3,800 Trees
3,800 trees were planted as part of the "Jîyan" project in Derik on the basis of decisions taken in the 3rd conference of the Women's Economic council of Kongra Star, organised by the Aborîya Jin office in Qamishlo.
Dry animal dung used as alternative to fuel in NE Syria
65-year-old Caziya Ileyat, who has grown vegetables in her small garden located in the town of Tell Tamer, has been engaged in agriculture since her childhood. She uses dry animal dung as an alternative to fuel.
Women of North and East Syria Revive Traditions
The aim of the Women’s Economic Committee in Aleppo’s Sheikh Maqsud neighbourhood is to support women. 13 women work in one of their projects making hand crafted and embroidered products. The project aims to involve a large number of people, especially unemployed women. Workers were trained in hand embroidery and the use of various labels.
The world can learn from the Rojava revolution
Let’s reflect on the great achievements of the Rojava revolution in north and east Syria in the face of great adversity: the unification of communities deliberately divided on the basis of religion and ethnicity by dictatorial states and the Islamic fundamentalist terrorist movements alike; the liberation and empowerment of women in the face of the reactionary rollbacks imposed by the later; the embryonic attempts to reorganise the economy on a cooperative and ecologically sustainable basis; and the establishment of inclusive grassroots democracy based on the democratic confederalist ideas developed by long-imprisoned Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan.
Women’s Economy Committee promotes women’s economic empowerment
The Women's Economy Committee in Hasakah, northeastern Syria, promotes women’s economic empowerment by developing projects that serve women, preserving women’s rights and preventing women’s exploitation.
Teqil Beqil Cooperative
The Aboriya Jin (women's economy) committee of North and East Syria has started buying wheat at the Tekil Beqil cooperative.
Women’s House leads social change in Qamishlo Canton
Women’s House, one of the networks created to solve the problems faced by women, leads social change in the Qamishlo Canton of North and East Syria.
2 sisters provide employment opportunities for hundreds of women in their handicraft shop
Bedia Şimay and Bedriye Tırak are the owners of a handicraft shop located in the Sur district of Amed. Two sisters sell the crafts made by women living in provinces such as Batman, Mardin, and Siirt in their shop to earn a livelihood. “We have provided employment opportunities for hundreds of women until now,” Bedia Şimay said.
