On January 7, 2025, Kongra Star held a consultative women’s forum on the role of women in a new Syria. More than 500 hundred women from various organizations and from different ethnic and cultural groups participated and discussed the role of women for a democratic Syria. The meeting ended with a final declaration of all the participants.
This is the final declaration:
Final declaration of the consultative women’s forum on the role of women in a new Syria
The final declaration of the First Women’s Consultative Forum in Northern and Eastern Syria called on all Syrian women to unite and develop the common struggle for a free and democratic Syria. The statement stressed the need for women to stand up against the repressive policies of the male authority to build a new women-led Syria and included several decisions on women’s role in Syria.
The first consultative forum held on on January 7, 2025, was organized by Kongra Star in Hasakah, Al Jazeera Canton, under the slogan “With women’s solidarity we will build a democratic Syria”. About 500 women representing all cultural and religious communities of the region were present. Syrian women from the coast region, Suwayda, Damascus and Aleppo participated via video call.
The Forum came up with a final statement read in Kurdish by the spokesperson of the Committee on Democratic Relations and Alliances of the women’s movement Kongra Star, Rihan Tamu and in Arabic by the spokesperson of the Zenobia Woman’s Assembly Khoud al-Issa. The statement affirmed several resolutions, which read as follows:
“The phase that began with women’s and people’s activities for freedom in the Middle East in 2011, has entered a new phase with the developments of the last few months. During 13 years of war in Syria, women have suffered the worst consequences. Major war crimes were committed during this period, from the rape of women to selling women in markets, from the slaughter of the people to the destruction of the historical and cultural heritage. Thanks to the struggle, resistance and sacrifice of women like Arin Mirkan, Avesta Khabur, Rivan Kobani, Jiyan Tolhildan, Sosin Birhat, Saada, Hind, Qamar, Shmiram Khabur, Widad Yunnan, Aleria Yaqub and the women who are still fighting in the trenches, ISIS and occupying forces were defeated. Through these enormous sacrifices, a new system based on the concept of a democratic nation has been established in the regions of North and East Syria. In this system, women have ensured their self-organization in every field, from self-defense to politics, from culture and art to the economy, from the justice system and education to ecology. This organizational structure created by women has become a source of inspiration and strength for women in the Middle East and the world, making this experience known as a Women’s Revolution. Women’s achievements have been reinforced through the Social Contract of the Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria. Today, as women, we have begun to work on the preparation of a Women’s Social Contract as a step towards ensuring women’s rights and freedom, seeking to add a new achievement to these gains.
The Ba’athist regime, which suppressed the peoples of the region, women, different beliefs and cultures for many years, has been overthrown. The main factor in the regime’s downfall was its disregard for the demands of freedom and democracy and its establishment of an anti-democratic, centralized and dictatorial regime. Throughout history, many peoples and beliefs have lived together in this land of ancient cultural heritage. However, the practices of this authoritarian regime and the 13-year war have led to the suffering of the people and the destruction of the culture of coexistence. This culture can only be revived through a system that recognizes all differences and is based on equality and democracy. Only then can Syria become a true homeland of all those living in Syria.
Despite attacks and threats, the Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria has succeeded over the past 13 years in applying the model of a democratic nation. After the overthrow of the Baath regime, effective measures are needed to enable the introduction of this proven model throughout Syria. We must prevent the mistakes of the past from being repeated. There are current attempts to rebuild a unitarist centralized state that ignores women’s and peoples’ rights and threatens different beliefs and cultures. Such a scenario would open the door to new wars and crises. The sacrifices we have made, the suffering we have endured, the future of millions of displaced persons and the threats to women and peoples in this region make it imperative that we as women participate more more actively in this process.
The spring of the people in the Middle East can only be achieved with women’s freedom. We, the women of North and East Syria, transformed the philosophy of “women, life, freedom” (jin, jiyan, azadi) into a system.
We appeal to all women in Syria: let us unite as women and develop the common struggle for a free and democratic Syria! Let us stand against the oppressive and warlike policies of male rule, and let us build together a new Syria led by women.
Resolutions:
1. Support of the declaration of the Syrian Women’s Council and playing an active role in its implementation.
2. Implement effective efforts to ensure that women’s rights and freedoms as guaranteed in the Social Contract of the regions of Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria, are taken as a basis in Syria’s new constitution.
3. Return of all occupied territories of North and East Syria and return of displaced persons from these areas to their places and territories.
4. Completion and proclamation of the women’s social contract in North and East Syria within the shortest possible period.
5. Ensure 50% women’s participation in the forthcoming National Conference for the Establishment of a New Order in Syria, with comprehensive representation of women of different peoples, beliefs and cultures living in Syria.
6. Participation of women in an interim government who represent the will of women.
7. Women’s participation in the Constitution Writing Commission.
8. Prevent any restrictions on women’s rights.
9. Ensure that women’s rights to work, education, travel, lifestyle and clothing are not interfered with so that they can live self-determined lives.
10. Recognition of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria as a model for safeguarding women’s rights and freedom to build an equal democratic society.
Hasakah, 7 January 2025
