The Second Conference of the Shengal People’s Municipalities concluded with elections and the reading of the final declaration, following discussions, evaluations and the adoption of significant decisions. In the election, Xwedêda Ilyas and Mariya Shengalî were chosen as the general co-spokespersons of the Shengal People’s Municipalities.
The final declaration stated that the Shengal People’s Municipalities will reorganize themselves among the people through communes and that the Union of Shengal People’s Municipalities Communes has been declared.
The final declaration read as follows: “Our conference began on 30 November 2025 with the motto ‘Through people’s municipalities, we will build our own structures, our own land and our own lives in a communal way,’ with the enthusiastic participation of 350 delegates. The participation of the co-chairs of the Maxmur and Qendil people’s municipalities, along with the messages sent by the people’s municipalities of North and East Syria, gave great strength and morale to our conference. Our conference began with this strength and morale. The people’s municipalities will organize themselves among the people.
The topics discussed at the conference and the issues that emerged paved the way for the organization of democratic communes. Abdullah Öcalan has defined democratic communes as the solution to all problems. For this reason, the Shengal People’s Municipalities reorganized themselves under the name ‘Union of Shengal People’s Municipalities Communes.’
The people’s municipality is part of communal social life
The conference stated that the commune is the natural form of social life. Throughout history, society has always needed a shared and communal way of living in order to create its own material and moral values, and for thousands of years it lived in this way. The people’s municipality is also a part of this communal social life. However, today, ruling systems have taken municipal governance away from the people and emptied it of its meaning. To build a moral, political and ecological society and a life based on women’s freedom, the Union of Shengal People’s Municipalities Communes bases itself on the will of society and takes self-governance and the production of services as its fundamental principles.
Women’s role is a fundamental criterion
The conference emphasized that women are the leading force in the construction of the Union of Shengal People’s Municipalities Communes. On this basis, the role of women was discussed comprehensively during the conference. The role of women was defined as a fundamental criterion for the advancement and organization of the people’s municipalities, as municipal governance, communal society and democratic values are grounded in the principle of equality between women and men.
The municipality mobilized its resources for the reconstruction of Shengal
The conference evaluated the 11 years of work carried out by the People’s Municipalities. As a result of the discussions, it was emphasized that the people’s municipalities have tried to respond to the needs of the people even under difficult working conditions. Municipal governance played an important role in the return of the Yazidi community to its own land. Against migration policies and genocide plans, it mobilized all its resources for the reconstruction of Shengal. At the same time, the existing deficiencies were criticized during the conference, and goals were set to further expand the work.
In line with the decisions taken and the goals defined by the conference, the Union of Shengal People’s Municipalities Communes will bring together all its strength and resources in the new period. With the spirit of communal and democratic life, it will expand and strengthen its work, laying a firm foundation for the freedom and autonomy of Shengal.’’
The Second Conference of the Shengal People’s Municipalities concluded with enthusiasm, morale and strong determination, ending with the slogan “Bijî Rêber Apo” (Long live President Öcalan).