Women who attended the conference titled “Let us struggle together to guarantee women’s rights in the Syrian Constitution,” organized by Kongra Star on 17 March 2026 in Qamishlo, spoke to ANF.
Democratic Union Party (PYD) Co-Chair of the Relations Office Sema Bekdaş drew attention to the role of women in the Rojava Revolution and said: “From the beginning of the Rojava Revolution until today, women have waged struggle in every field. This struggle has shown that the freedom of society depends on the freedom of women. Women have led the project of a democratic society and social transformation. Taking on a significant role in the Rojava Revolution, they created profound changes in society and made their voices heard across the world.
Women established unity at the level of Syria and the Middle East and collectivized their struggle. This struggle was carried out at a heavy cost; dozens of women fighters were martyred.”
Sema Bekdaş also underlined that there are serious threats targeting women’s gains and continued: “We know how women have been ignored throughout history and how their rights have been usurped. The presence of women in the Rojava Revolution became a measure of writing their own history. Women created their identities, their laws, and their social contracts. All of these are products of women’s struggle. In this sensitive period, we are going through, we must further expand our struggle to enshrine and formalize our gains in the Syrian Constitution. Because there are serious threats. Women’s will be not sufficiently reflected in the Interim Syrian Government. Yet in Rojava, the presence of women is a fundamental principle, and all decisions are made on this basis.”
Bekdaş emphasized the need for stronger organization among women and said: “Women are not included in the laws and decisions of the interim government. For this reason, we must organize more strongly. Today, all eyes are on Rojava. We must struggle to build a democratic Syria and to guarantee women’s rights.”
Zîlan Cesûr, a member of the Women’s Protection Units (YPJ) Command, also spoke about the role of the YPJ and said: “For 14 years, the YPJ has established its own system in Rojava and Syria and continues its work. We faced great challenges, but today we have built our existence. The reason for these difficulties was the non-acceptance of women in society and the failure to recognize their will. The presence of women in the military sphere has been a major experience for Syria. Thanks to this, the YPJ is now recognized worldwide.”
Zîlan Cesûr reaffirmed their determination to protect women and said: “As the YPJ, we protect our existence, our system, and our will. We have made a promise to all women; we will defend their existence, their cause, and their will until the end. We will continue to stand with mothers and women and to protect them.”
Emîne Omer, a member of the Coordination of the Women’s Council of North and East Syria, stated that women have shown great resistance throughout the 14-year crisis and said: “Throughout the crisis in Syria, women have struggled and managed to protect their rights in their regions. The struggle that began in North and East Syria is an important example. Women have taken part in every field, participated in decision-making mechanisms, and formed their own self-defense forces. These are major achievements for women.”
Omer also spoke about the current situation of women and said: “The 14-year-long crisis has deeply affected women. They have faced violence, hardship, and obstacles. With the collapse of the Baath regime and the establishment of the interim government, women were hopeful; however, their role in the steps being taken is gradually diminishing. There are no provisions in the Syrian Constitution that guarantee women’s rights.”
Omer emphasized the importance of women’s unity and concluded: “Today, women’s rights are under serious threat. Women are being pushed out of politics and treated as second-class citizens. In this historical moment, women must build their unity and stand by one another. Women must be included in the future Syrian Constitution and must not lose their gains. We must struggle together to strengthen one another. Our views and demands must be common so that we can take part in the reconstruction of Syria.”
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