Rojava Kongra Star Coordination Member Jiyan Hisên spoke to ANF about the achievements and significance of the women’s revolution.
Jiyan Hisên emphasized that women have achieved gains through a great struggle and said: “When we speak of the Rojava Revolution, we are referring to 14 years of uninterrupted struggle and work carried out under the leadership of women. As a result of this struggle, many achievements have been secured. These achievements have been built upon fundamental principles, foremost among them women’s freedom. When we speak of women’s freedom, we mean women’s presence in the intellectual and scientific spheres and the strengthening of their role within society. Therefore, the fundamental criteria of democracy and freedom are the presence of women in all institutions, as well as in political and social fields.”
Hisên stated that they witnessed how the YPJ was founded and how it became a source of inspiration for all women, both in Rojava and beyond. “If a woman today can take up arms, fight, and achieve such gains against such a dark force, then she can also assume her role in all spheres of life. The Kurdish people possess a consciousness of freedom and democracy. It was Kurdish women who led the revolution. Subsequently, women from other communities in Rojava also wanted to join the revolution, attain achievements, and protect them together. These gains were secured through the sacrifices and heroism of women. The more women’s freedom advances and the more women’s existence is secured, the more attacks against women increase. Because it is wanted that women do not have existence and status.”
‘It is our duty and responsibility to safeguard our gains’
Jiyan Hisên stressed that women must further intensify their struggle in order to secure their existence: “For women to be conscious in the face of these attacks, they must raise their level of awareness and struggle. This consciousness must not remain individual; it must be embraced collectively for all women, and women’s unity must be strengthened further. When we look at other parts of Kurdistan and at the World today, women have achieved many gains; we must expand our struggle even more in this field. In the current process we are going through, women’s existence is not being recognized. A struggle must be waged to secure this existence politically, legally, and constitutionally. At the same time, women’s unity must be made stronger. In Rojava, we have many achievements. In particular, the fundamental force that we regard as our red line and will never abandon is the YPJ. Because it is they who protect our existence and our land, who have waged an uninterrupted struggle and resistance on the battlefield until today. Thousands of women have fallen as martyrs for this reality.
Likewise, our co-presidency system must be expanded everywhere. When women take part in decision-making mechanisms, equality is built in every sphere; therefore, this system must be secured. We must continue our struggle for our self-defense, for our education, our language, and our existence. The science of Jineology, presented to us by Leader Apo (Abdullah Öcalan) in 2008 and acknowledged in Rojava as a foundational science, connects us both with our history and our future. The current government in Syria does not recognize women’s existence, because women are not given a place within the governmental system they are pursuing. Yet in every discussion we hold with them, we defend the necessity of women’s participation. There is a 14-year women’s struggle here; when change is created in consciousness, we can also protect our achievements. For this reason, it is our duty and responsibility to safeguard our gains and to secure our existence in the face of this transitional government.”
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