{"id":12522,"date":"2024-05-07T13:37:20","date_gmt":"2024-05-07T12:37:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mesopotamia.coop\/?p=12522"},"modified":"2024-05-07T13:37:20","modified_gmt":"2024-05-07T12:37:20","slug":"family-law-protects-rights-of-women-and-children-in-ne-syria","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mesopotamia.coop\/family-law-protects-rights-of-women-and-children-in-ne-syria\/","title":{"rendered":"Family law protects rights of women and children in NE Syria"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

One of the achievements of women’s struggle in North and East Syria is the \u201cFamily Law\u201d that protects the rights of women and children and spreads the idea of common life in society.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In North and East Syria, women<\/a> continue to build a new life with the philosophy of \u201cJin, Jiyan, Azadi\u201d (Women, Life, Freedom). One of the achievements of women\u2019s struggle was the \u201cWomen\u2019s Law\u201d adopted in 2014 after the establishment of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2020, the name of the Women\u2019s Law<\/a> was changed to \u201cFamily Law<\/a>\u201d. 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Difficulties in the implementation of the law in cities liberated from ISIS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The implementation of the Family Law is more important in cities liberated from ISIS such as Raqqa<\/a>, Tabqa<\/a>, Manbij<\/a> and Deir ez-Zor<\/a>. 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 \u2018The idea of common life spreads in society\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In an interview with NuJINHA, Adalet \u00d6mer, head of the Women\u2019s Council of North and East Syria, spoke about Family Law. \u201cAfter the establishment of the AANES, women wanted their rights to be legally guaranteed,\u201d she said, recalling that women led the revolution in Rojava<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 \u201cOne 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\u2019s revolution.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2018Women struggled and took their legal rights\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Emphasizing that women played very important roles in revolutions throughout history, Adalet \u00d6mer said, \u201cThe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2018This law was adopted to protect the rights of women and children\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Adalet \u00d6mer also spoke about the Women\u2019s Law adopted in 2014. \u201cThe Women\u2019s Law was based on equality and democracy<\/a>. 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\u2019s Law was adopted to protect the rights of women and children. We conducted family visits in Cizre, Kobane<\/a> and Afrin<\/a> 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.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The change of the name<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Adalet \u00d6mer said that the name of the Women\u2019s Law was changed to \u201cFamily Law\u201d in 2020. \u201cBecause the Women\u2019s Law was only about women\u2019s rights. We changed its name because we wanted to include children\u2019s rights. The Family Law protects not only women\u2019s rights but also children\u2019s rights. Free society requires free families.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They organized many activities<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Women\u2019s Council of North and East Syria has organized many activities so that the Family Law was accepted in society. \u201cWe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2018A free life can be built by free women\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pointing to important achievements of women in North and East Syria, she said, \u201cWomen have taken their rights and become role models all around the world. The AANES adopts the co-presidency system<\/a> 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.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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