DELAL REMEZAN

Hasakah- The Sara Organization to Combat Violence against Women, a women’s organization based in northeastern Syria, launched a campaign on July 1, 2024 to raise awareness about gender-based violence and femicide with the motto, “We are hope, we are peace”.

In an interview with NuJINHA, Rosa Issa, member of the Education Committee of the organization, talked about the goals of the campaign.

‘The aim is to ensure equality in society’

Rosa Issa pointed to the increase in social problems since the start of the Syrian crisis and said, “To solve these problems, a family law was drafted to build democratic families, ensure equality in society, understand the reasons that led to the crisis, and protect rights. We organized various activities to give information about Family Law. The Sara Organization, in cooperation with communes and assemblies, has held workshops across North and East Syria, including in IDPs camps, to raise awareness.”

‘The aim is to raise awareness’

We have held workshops to raise awareness about women’s rights and against gender-based violence, Rosa Issa told NuJINHA. “We launched a campaign on July 1 to combat gender-based violence and to discuss and give information about the Family Law. The aim of our campaign is to raise awareness in society and among women living in villages, towns and cities about the Family Law and violence against women. The campaign will last two months.”

The Family Law has many articles about many issues such as child marriage, alimony and inheritance rights, femicide, polygamy, divorce and custody. “The problems faced by women are solved in coordination with other women's organizations and movements such as Kongra Star and Mala Jin (Women’s House). Violence against women is a major human rights violation. It has negative effects on both women and the whole society. Therefore, struggling against all forms of violence is our duty. The Family Law protects women’s rights and contributes to the building of a society without violence.”

‘Our aim is to reach all women’

At the end of her speech, Rosa Issa called on all women to attend the courses organized by the Sara Organization. “Women should know their rights and their roles by being involved in women’s movements that protect their rights and participate in seminars and conferences organized for them. Our aim is to reach all women across North and East Syria to give information about their rights.”