During the July 19 Revolution, known as the Women’s Revolution, women from the Kurdish, Arab, Syriac, Assyrian, Armenian, Circassian, and Turkmen components in Rojava and North and East Syria rose up against the actions of the authorities based on a patriarchal and sectarian mentality.

We present to you in this file the results of women’s efforts and activities, and the achievements they accomplished during the revolution, on the occasion of March 8, International Women’s Day.

The social contract

After the announcement of the Autonomous Administration of al- Jazira Canton on January 21, 2014, Kobani on January 27, and Afrin on January 29, 2014, the Legislative Council of the Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria met in the city of Amuda in the same year and ratified the Rojava Social Contract, which preserves the military, political, and social rights of women. The system of co-chair was adopted as a fundamental principle in all institutions of the Autonomous Administration.

The social contract was amended on December 29, 2016, and issues of freedom, justice, equality, education, health, environmental protection, women’s freedom, and the protection of women’s and children’s rights were fundamental in this social contract, with women’s representation in these areas reaching 40 percent.

In the context of people’s rights and women’s proposals, the Democratic Autonomous Administration amended the social contract again and ratified the new social contract on December 12, 2023. According to the contract, the representation of women in the public justice system in the region was set at 50 percent.

In 2024, preparations began for a social contract specifically for women, and work on it is still ongoing.

Women’s Authority

Women’s Authority is one of the bodies affiliated with the Executive Council of the Autonomous Administration. Its work involves addressing women’s social, economic, cultural, political, and legal issues, and it operates based on social justice and the democratic family.

The Women’s Authority includes the Women’s Protection Office and the Children’s Protection Office.

At the level of al-Jazira canton, the Amara Office was opened to provide psychological support to women who are subjected to extortion and abuse. Additionally, between 2022 and 2023, 7 centers named “Ahlan Simsim” were opened to develop children’s skills.

Women’s organization

With the aim of standing against all forms of violence and social problems and liberating from prevailing systems, and based on the principle of “Organize yourself according to the ideology of women’s liberation,” the Kongra Star was established as a union before the revolution in 2005, and it continues to manage community organization now under the name Kongra Star.

Kongra Star took the initiative to establish the first women’s councils and centers and organize them in the liberated regions of North and East Syria from ISIS mercenaries (al-Tabqa, Raqqa, Deir ez-Zor). In 2021, the establishment of the Zenobia Women’s Assembly was announced, with its centers located in al-Tabqa, Deir ez-Zor, Raqqa, and Manbij before being occupied by Turkey and its mercenaries in late 2024. It is concerned with organizing women on all levels, in addition to addressing social issues such as violence, child marriage, polygamy, murder, divorce, and inheritance.

Many institutions to combat the patriarchal mentality

To combat violence against women in North and East Syria, the Sara Organization for Combating Violence Against Women was established in 2013.

The Center for Research and Protection of Women’s Rights was established in 2020 with the aim of providing legal support to women and documenting the ongoing violations against them.

The Free Women’s Foundation in Syria was also established in 2014 with the aim of developing and empowering women in the economic, cultural, social, and health sectors.

The Women’s Environmental Platform was established in Rojava in 2022 to promote environmental awareness.

Alongside these organizations, many women’s councils have been established in the region. In 2019, the Women’s Council in North and East Syria was established, and in 2017, the Syrian Women’s Council, the Women’s Council in the Democratic Union Party (PYD), and women’s councils and offices in the Future Syria Party, the Syrian Democratic Council (SDC), and the Democratic Society Movement (TEV-DEM) were established. These are important and significant organizations in the region.

Women’s unions for the Syriac, Armenian, and Yazidi communities were also established in the region, along with the Young Women’s Union and the Women’s Media Union (YRJ), as well as several associations and civil society organizations dedicated to women.

Women’s House

In order to protect women’s rights, combat violence, prevent child marriage, address harassment and rights violations, and tackle all social issues in various cities, as well as to solve social problems according to the model of a democratic and ecological society and to liberate women, the first women’s house was opened in the city of Qamishlo on March 20, 2011, under the auspices of the Star Union (now the Kongra Star). Today, there are 39 women’s houses in North and East Syria.

Also, in the cities of Qamishlo and Hasakah in 2019, under the auspices of the Syriac Women’s Union, the Ishtarot House for Women was established with the aim of finding solutions to the problems faced by Syriac, Armenian, and Chaldean women.

Women’s Justice Council

The Women’s Justice Council was established in 2016 and operated throughout North and East Syria. Under its umbrella, the Women’s House, the Justice Bureau, the Reconciliation Committee, and the Academy were organized.

After the expansion of the liberated areas, the Women’s Social Justice Council in North and East Syria was announced at al-Jazira Conference for the Women’s Justice Council (2018).

Family law

The Women’s Law, which guarantees women’s political, economic, and social rights without relying on patriarchal or masculine mentality and achieves justice and equality, was issued on October 27, 2014, under the auspices of the Kongra Star and consists of 26 articles. However, due to the absence of specific penal laws, the penal code of the Damascus Government was adopted. The Women’s Law was completed in 2016 with the approval of the criminal and penal laws.

In 2019, at the first conference of the Women’s Council in North and East Syria, which included 62 women’s organizations and independent women, the Women’s Law was discussed as principles for women, and a decision was made to issue the Family Law.

The Family Law consists of 6 titles: marriage, divorce, effects of divorce, alimony, kinship, and family-related crimes, and it includes 41 articles. The law stipulates a prison sentence of 10 years for those who commit crimes of killing women. The Family Law was approved for the first time in 2023 in the al-Jazira region, and it protects women, children, and family members.

The security and military field

The Internal Security Forces – Women took over women’s security practically in 2012 and was officially established in 2014. It includes the Syriac Women’s Protection Units (Sutoro), the Assyrian Internal Security Forces (Natura), and women also have a place in the traffic department.

The Women’s Protection Units (YPJ) were established in 2013. Additionally, women take their place independently within the councils of Kurdish, Arab, Syriac, Assyrian, and Armenian components affiliated with the Syrian Democratic Forces.

In order to protect the community security-wise and prevent the proxy war being waged in the region from abroad, the Community Protection Forces for Women were established in 2016.

Golden Crescent Movement

The Hilal Zerin Movement for Women’s Culture in North and East Syria was established in 2016, and today it has 5 centers distributed across the region’s cities. Under the umbrella of the movement, the Shahida Berxwedan Studio and the Women’s Cinema operate as two institutions managing artistic works such as films, music videos, and song releases.

In 2024, the Hela Zerin Movement for Women’s Culture in North and East Syria inaugurated the Higher Institute of Arts in the city of al-Hasakah.

In 2020, the movement also opened the Martyr Noyla School of Fine Arts and established a children’s music band of the same name.

“We need to challenge the prevailing traditions and cultural norms that perpetuate violence against women and make it seem inevitable. We assert that violence will never be women’s fate. It needs to be opposed and eradicated.”

Violence against women and girls remains one of the most prevalent and pervasive human rights violations in the world, according to the UN. Globally, almost one in three women have been subjected to physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence, non-partner sexual violence, or both, at least once in their life.

Sara was formed in 2013, its initial membership being mostly composed of teachers in the public school system. They chose the name “Sara” because it was a common woman’s name among the Christian, Arab, and Kurdish communities living in the region. Choosing a commonly-used name also served the purpose of concealing their operations, which could be met with societal backlash. In choosing the logo, Tammo explains, “We observed that a significant number of women who sought our assistance had visible signs of physical abuse inflicted by their husbands. We chose to utilize the hand gesture representing ‘STOP,’ in red to symbolize blood, because it was employed by numerous other organizations advocating for women’s rights and standing in solidarity with them against violence.”

Tammo tells RIC that Sara started as a volunteer organization, and most of its members are still working on a volunteer basis. Their first center was opened in Qamishlo, followed by centers in Kobane in 2016 and in Afrin in 2015 – prior to Turkey’s occupation of the region. Sara has since expanded its reach, including campaigns in IDP camps across NES.

Sara’s Role in the Justice System of NES

When the DAANES passed the Women’s Law in 2014, Sara was gratified. The Women’s Law entails principles such as prohibiting so-called honor killings, preventing polygamy, and prohibiting violence against women in general. The Family Law is the current iteration of the DAANES’ legislative enshrinement of women’s rights. Tammo explains that an article from this law that is most helpful to Sara is the one that permits a representative of women’s organizations to be present at court cases dealing with violence against women.

Sara accompanies women in court to ensure that their case will be heard in adherence to the Family Law. They sometimes act as defense attorneys for women who cannot afford one. “We assert that our objective is to advocate for the victim and uphold the principles of justice,” says Tammo. Even if a woman already has an attorney, Sara representatives can still be present at the court case to make sure justice will be doled out properly. Tammo explains that in many instances, the two families involved in a dispute will reach a reconciliation after making a financial payment to the family of the victim. In return, the aggrieved family will drop their lawsuit and accept the justification of the killing as a matter of honor. “However, in such cases, we refuse to accept this justification,” Tammo says, “maintaining that it is imperative to reject the notion of ‘honor’ as a defense for murdering women.”

After the Women’s Law was passed, Sara went on a campaign to spread knowledge of it, knowing it could be difficult for the society to grasp. They disseminated information about the legislation through lectures, meetings, and discussions. One of the campaigns they launched was titled “women are life, do not kill life.”

Difficulties and Reception

When the Women’s Law was originally implemented, there was a public reading of the law in a city square. When members of Sara attended, they heard complaints from men in the crowd. There were many doubts about how the law would be carried out.” I said: if they do not even want to listen to this, how can we implement it?” Tammo shares, “but we decided to struggle, trusting that time will bring results. We need to challenge the prevailing traditions and cultural norms that perpetuate violence against women and make it seem inevitable. We assert that violence will never be women’s fate. It needs to be opposed and eradicated.”

The work is not easy and the situations of women who come to Sara can be quite heavy. Tammo shares having experienced insomnia from some of the cases she’s heard about women being killed by their husbands. “I do not understand why someone has to die, even if there is evidence of cheating. Why can’t the two parties simply break up and leave each other? Why does anyone’s life have to be taken?” She says, “Men under no circumstances have the right to kill their wives. It is wrong and unfair, also for the children who are left without a parent.”

Sara’s work is not without opposition. Tammo shares that sometimes they get harassed by men:

“Some men have been angry with our work, perceiving us as working against their traditions, culture or tribal legal system which allows them to kill in the name of ‘honor’ with impunity. Therefore, we are sometimes worried. But these threats do not break our will. Despite the difficulties, challenges, and fears, we are taking this work on our shoulders. We take the risk for the sake of women and their freedom.”November 25, 2024

The ‘We Are Hope, We Are Peace’ campaign launched on 1 July by the Sara Organization for the Fight Against Violence against Women, which operates in Northern and Eastern Syria, continues at full speed. This campaign, which will be completed by the end of August, aims to introduce the Family Law.

The Family Law, by securing civil rights and banning polygamy and child marriages, introduces strict sanctions regarding domestic violence and takes measures to protect women and children. It also aims to ensure that family relations are conducted fairly by making regulations on issues such as divorce and marriage.

The Family Law consists of a total of 41 articles under 6 headings: marriage, divorce, the effects of divorce, the livelihood of relatives, crimes related to kinship and families.

Delal Osman, a member of the Sara Organization for the Fight Against Violence against Women, spoke to ANF about the aim and progress of the campaign.

Focusing on raising awareness of men

Delal Osman said: “We started such a campaign to respond to the increase in violence against women. We realized that the campaign would be important because the male-dominated mentality deals with women in line with reactionary traditions and customs, oppresses women and takes away their rights. In line with this initiative, we are focusing on raising the awareness of men rather than women. We are holding discussions with men and deeply addressing the foundation of a democratic family.”

Osman added: “Violence against women has not ended. We are aware of the intense tendencies towards women, and in line with the weight of this, we want to prevent the killings and violence against women that take place under the name of ‘honor’. In fact, women also needed to be made aware of the legal dimension. They needed to know that there were laws that defended women’s rights and that it was time to express the reflections of violence against their bodies and minds.”

Encouraging a democratic family model

Delal Osman said that the campaign was carried out in line with the introduction of the Family Law and that visits were made to villages, towns and districts in the region. “These visits take place in the form of home visits, meetings, seminars and panels. We also distribute brochures and provide information about every article of the Family Law. The aim of the initiative is to explain the rights provided by the law to women who are not aware of the Family Law and to encourage a democratic family model. The interest of society in the initiative is positive, and the discussions are intense. Many people have heard of the Family Law but were not familiar with its content. We also observed problems related to traditional family structures and violence.”

In North and East Syria, women continue to build a new life with the philosophy of “Jin, Jiyan, Azadi” (Women, Life, Freedom). One of the achievements of women’s struggle was the “Women’s Law” adopted in 2014 after the establishment of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES).

In 2020, the name of the Women’s Law was changed to “Family Law”. Consisting of six sections, the Family Law covers issues such as marriage, divorce and child custody and bans female genital mutilation, polygamy and child marriage. The law also protects the rights of women and children.

Difficulties in the implementation of the law in cities liberated from ISIS

The implementation of the Family Law is more important in cities liberated from ISIS such as Raqqa, Tabqa, Manbij and Deir ez-Zor. In these cities, where Arab, Turkmen, Circassian and Kurdish women are oppressed by families and tribes, the implementation of the law is very difficult because men do not accept it.

 ‘The idea of common life spreads in society’

In an interview with NuJINHA, Adalet Ömer, head of the Women’s Council of North and East Syria, spoke about Family Law. “After the establishment of the AANES, women wanted their rights to be legally guaranteed,” she said, recalling that women led the revolution in Rojava.

 “One of the most important achievements of the revolution is that the idea of common life spreads in society. We believe that women and men can have a common life. Before the revolution, there was a discriminatory system. After the revolution, women began to participate in politics, social and cultural life. They demanded a law protecting their rights. The difference between the revolution in Rojava and other revolutions is that women lead the revolution in Rojava and this revolution is also known as women’s revolution.”

‘Women struggled and took their legal rights’

Emphasizing that women played very important roles in revolutions throughout history, Adalet Ömer said, “The women in North and East Syria formed their own military forces and participated in all facets of life. They struggled and took their legal rights. In the Middle East, women, unfortunately, have no rights; religions, customs and traditions encourage, justify gender discrimination, and violate women’s rights.”

‘This law was adopted to protect the rights of women and children’

Adalet Ömer also spoke about the Women’s Law adopted in 2014. “The Women’s Law was based on equality and democracy. In the Middle East, men are considered to be the heads of families. Women and children have no right. Men and women are not equal. The Women’s Law was adopted to protect the rights of women and children. We conducted family visits in Cizre, Kobane and Afrin cantons to raise awareness about the rights of women and children. After the liberation of Raqqa, Manbij and Deir ez-Zor from ISIS, we conducted family visits there.”

The change of the name

Adalet Ömer said that the name of the Women’s Law was changed to “Family Law” in 2020. “Because the Women’s Law was only about women’s rights. We changed its name because we wanted to include children’s rights. The Family Law protects not only women’s rights but also children’s rights. Free society requires free families.”

They organized many activities

The Women’s Council of North and East Syria has organized many activities so that the Family Law was accepted in society. “We organize many activities especially in liberated areas such as Raqqa, Tabqa, Manbij and Deir ez-Zor. We work to break the traditions that oppress women. We have held seminars and meetings to listen to both women and men.”

‘A free life can be built by free women’

Pointing to important achievements of women in North and East Syria, she said, “Women have taken their rights and become role models all around the world. The AANES adopts the co-presidency system in all political, social, administrative, and other fields. There is an equal participation of men and women. Women paid heavy prices to build this system; our female comrades were martyred. We will never give up on struggling for the freedom of all women. A free life can be built by free women.”

Feyruz Xelil: People accept the Family Law

Feyruz Xelil, member of the Women’s Council of North and East Syria, told us the Family Law was accepted more by women. In 2020, the law began to be implemented in regions mostly populated by Arabs.

“We carried out many activities in many cities, especially in Raqqa, Tabqa, Manbij and Deir ez-Zor. Women had no right to inherit. They could not get child custody. We have conducted family visits in these cities and discussed these issues with the people and tribal leaders. Now, people accept Family Law.”

Feyruz Xelil also talked about the change in society after the cities were liberated from ISIS. “When these cities were controlled by ISIS, girls were forced into child marriage and men could have two or three wives. After they were liberated from ISIS, we carried out many activities. Now, the Family Law is implemented in these cities.”