NUCAN ARAS

Hasakah- Since the revolution that took place on July 19, 2012 in northeastern Syria, women have broken new grounds in all facets of life. The women leading the revolution in Rojava have ensured and secured the resistance and gains of Kurdish women all over the world. Since jihadist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) took power in Syria following the fall of the Baathist regime on December 8, 2024, it has signed many decisions in a short time, ignoring the rights of many ethnic and religious groups living in Syria and maintaining the monist mentality of the Baathist regime in Syria.

On March 23, 2025, the 1st Kurdish Women’s Conference in Rojava was held at Azadi Garden Hall in the city Qamishlo with the motto, “Achieving Kurdish national unity under the leadership of Kurdish women”. The conference was attended by about 300 delegates consisting of women politicians, intellectuals, writers, artists, journalists, representatives of women's organizations and movements, the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES), Women's Defense Units (YPJ) Commanders and women from Aleppo and Damascus.

 At the conference, women discussed the current political developments in Syria, the effects of the new process on women and oppression and attacks on women. The women also expressed their demands, suggestions and opinions for the future. “The conference gave great excitement and hope to women,” said Perwin Yusuf, Co-chair of the Democratic Union Party (PYD).

‘We must crown our gains with success’

Following the fall of the Assad regime, a new process started in Syria, Perwin Yusuf told NuJINHA. “The changes in the constitution and decisions taken by the interim government have had a serious impact on women and driven women to despair. Since the start of the new process, they (government) aim to weaken women's will and create fear and hopelessness among them. This conference was an important conference to overcome the challenges faced by women. The aim of the conference was to respond to the hopes of women living in Syria by developing our own legal rights, principles with a common spirit of unity led by the women's revolution. As all Syrian women, we must unite and take responsibility in order to guarantee and protect all our constitutional rights.”

‘The women’s revolution in Rojava can also lead to a Syrian women's revolution’

Perwin Yusuf emphasized that the interim constitution in Syria could never fulfill the demands and hopes of women.

“The revolutionary changes and transformations led by women will not remain in the shadow of these laws, but will strengthen more. The women’s revolution in Rojava will continue to bring hope and light to women living in Sweida, Hama, Homs and coastal cities. Syrian women have witnessed how women in North and East Syria have played a leading role in all facets of life, including politics, economy, military and education. The women’s revolution in Rojava can also lead to a Syrian women’s revolution. The experience, knowledge and changes in Rojava Kurdistan will spread across Syria and contribute to the changes and developments in the new Syria.”

‘Syrian women must unite under the same umbrella’

Perwin Yusuf talked about the 1st Women’s Conference in Rojava and called on Syrian women to organize a “National Women’s Conference” together. “As Syrian women, we must unite under the same umbrella. We can rebuild a democratic, decentralized Syria together. We must build a free society dreamed by our society and our martyrs. With our organized will and struggle, we must ensure that all identities, especially the Kurdish people are represented freely with their culture, language and existence in Syria.”