As part of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women (25 November), the Jineoloji Academy has been organizing extensive activities since 16 November in many cities of North and East Syria. The program will conclude tomorrow (2 December) with a panel titled “Against Sati culture, Jin Jiyan Azadî” to be held at Azadi Park in Qamishlo.
From Aleppo to Tabqa and Kobane, and from Hasakah to Qamishlo, Derik, and Jinwar, the seminars, panels, and men’s education activities aim to strengthen women’s freedom, raise social awareness, fight violence, and ensure women’s active participation in social life by achieving an organized level. Women participating in the events conduct research on the designated topics and deliver presentations.
In North and East Syria, where different cultures and historical identities are interwoven, the spirit of real democracy comes to life through the presence of women activists in social and political fields. Here, diversity is seen not as an obstacle but as a richness that adds new dimensions to dialogue and as a value that develops the capacity for reconciliation and finding common solutions.
Within this framework, the Jineoloji Academy and the Syriac Women’s Council held a dialogue seminar titled “How Can Syriac Women’s Issues Be Resolved from a Jineoloji Perspective?” on 29 November at Shiler Café in Qamishlo, in the Cizire Canton, with the participation of women from Syriac, Arab, Kurdish, and other communities.
The seminar was also attended by Zehriban Hisên, spokesperson of the Jineoloji Academy of North and East Syria, members of the Andrea Weif International Women’s Institute, Syriac women’s organizations, and representatives of the Syriac Women’s Union. Zehriban Hisên spoke to ANF about the event.
Stating that similar meetings had been held before but that this seminar had a more distinctive atmosphere, Zehriban Hisên said that the gathering enabled each community to introduce its own civilization and history, made visible the presence of Syriac women in ancient and modern history, and allowed an assessment of both their achievements and the injustices they have faced. The names of Syriac writers and poets, who are important figures of cultural memory, were also commemorated.
Zehriban Hisên emphasized the importance of continuity in such discussions, saying: “Every community that knows itself can express its experiences, achievements, and shortcomings better.”
Drawing attention to the pioneering role Syriac women played in the Rojava Revolution through formations such as the Sutoro Women’s Forces and the Syriac Women’s Union, Zehriban Hisên stated: “The cultural richness and diversity of North and East Syria is an invaluable value of our shared existence. Today we speak both Syriac and Kurdish; we come together around diversity of language and identity. But what truly unites us is something greater: we have a single goal, and that is to achieve full freedom by organizing women’s unique power, to build a truly democratic society, and to sustain diversity on the basis of harmony among communities. The active participation of women is the cornerstone of every sustainable project.”
“An ideological message against historical denial”
Another speaker was Hela Romniyan from the Syriac community and a member of the Jineoloji Academy. Speaking to our agency, Hela Romniyan stated that the dialogue seminar with Syriac women was not a cultural activity, but an ideological message from a women’s perspective aimed at preserving Syriac identity in the face of historical denial and assimilation policies.
Hela Romniyan emphasized that Syriac women are the bearers of culture and traditions through songs, clothing, and rituals, saying, “They are bastions of resistance that protect the originality and heritage of society.”
She underlined that the seminar provided a platform that enabled direct interaction between Syriac and Kurdish women. She said that this closeness, built through songs, dances, and traditional clothing, helps women jointly protect their societies against cultural alienation and assimilation efforts.
Hela Romniyan stated that this leadership starting with women should eventually spread to the whole society, strengthening inter-communal solidarity and creating a solid foundation for harmony.
She concluded: “In the coming days, we will deepen these discussions and turn them into strategic outcomes. The results will serve the construction of a common society that preserves identity, carries cultural heritage into the future, and establishes a strong ground of harmony among communities.”
