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.
‘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.
Call for action on water security in conflict-hit North and East Syria
A workshop in Cizîr (Jazira) Canton in Kurdish-controlled North and East Syria is calling for international support and highlighting modern techniques to secure water resources and protect them from conflict, marking World Water Week.
Women’s Economy aims to increase women’s employment with its projects
The Women’s Economy of the Kongra Star has opened a furniture store named "Star Furniture Store" in Dêrik to increase women’s participation in the labour force and achieve their economic independence.
Traditional beekeeping in clay hives in Rojava
Sakîne Faris has been keeping bees in Amûdê for ten years and makes beehives out of clay. She can meet her basic needs with the honey produced by her bees.
KASED’s courses to start: We can organize more activities together
The Women's Association for Culture, Art and Literature (KASED) gets ready to provide new courses to women and children next week. “We can organize more activities together with women,” said Saliha Ayata.
‘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.
Agricultural activities led by women in Raqqa
In Raqqa, women lead agricultural activities by producing, breeding, or increasing agricultural products, managing land and operating farms.
Kardelen Women’s House reactivated
Kardelen Women's House of the Rezan (Bağlar) Municipality in Amed (Diyarbakır) has been reactivated since the DEM Party won the municipality in the local elections in Turkey on March 31.
Gulistan Murad: Communal economy strengthens women’s self-defense
Gülistan Murad, spokeswoman for the Kongra-Star economics committee, explains the importance of building an autonomous communal women's economy.
