DİREN ENGÎZEK

Qamishlo- The Center for Research and Protection of Women's Rights has provided legal support to women in the city of Qamishlo, North and East Syria, since it was founded in 2019. NuJINHA spoke to Şirin Çori, director of the center, about the activities of the center.

 ‘We carry out activities to raise awareness about women’s rights’

Since its foundation, the center has worked for displaced women living in IDPs camps and documented violations against women in the areas occupied by the Turkish state in North and East Syria. “We document crimes committed against women such as killing, kidnapping and violence. We also organize seminars and workshops to raise awareness about women’s rights,” Şirin Çori told NuJINHA.

The center opened a branch in Belgium in 2022.  “The members of the center are from many cities such as Hasakah, Raqqa, Aleppo and Damascus. We have been carrying out educational activities such as panels and seminars for women and children since the center was founded,” Şirin Çori said.

‘We document crimes committed against women’

The center releases an annual report on crimes committed against women. Speaking about the reports of the center, Şirin Çori said, “We document rights violations and crimes committed against women in the areas of North and East Syria occupied by the Turkish state and Turkish-backed factions. Women living in the occupied areas face many problems; they are killed, kidnapped and tortured every day. We have two files on crimes against women in these areas.”

The situation of women living in the camps

Although the center has prepared reports on rights violations against women by armed groups affiliated with the Turkish state and sent them to the Court of International Human Rights, no lawsuit has been filed by the court. The center also prepared a report on the killing of Hevrin Khalaf in 2019, “We sent the report to the court; however, no lawsuit was filed.”

 The center especially carries out activities for women living in IDPs camps. “We carry out our activities in the Roj Camp. We have interviewed 240 women in the camp until now. In the camp, there are radical women, who willingly joined ISIS, and the wives of ISIS members. The wives of ISIS members are afraid of the radical women.”

Activities for children

The center works coordinately with several international human rights organizations to support women living in the camps. The center also carries out activities for children in the camps. “We provide psychological support to the children by working coordinately with international children’s organizations. We have provided support to 460 children in Roj camp. In the camp, children live in very difficult conditions. They are affected by the radical ideology of their families. We hold seminars on women’s rights. We try to carry out educational activities for both women and children,” said Şirin Çori.

‘Women living in the camps should be supported’

Speaking about the plans of the center, Şirin Çori said, “We will keep holding seminars on women’s rights in the camps, tents and villages. We will keep documenting inhuman practices against women and children. We will keep working for the implementation of Resolution 1325 issued by the United Nations Security Council.”

In her speech, Şirin Çori also called on the international women’s organizations and human rights organizations to “support women living in camps. Women living in the camps should be supported.”