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Hasakah- On March 23, 2025, the 1st Kurdish Women’s Conference in Rojava was held in the city Qamishlo with the motto, “Achieving Kurdish national unity under the leadership of Kurdish women”. NuJINHA spoke to Elif Hamo, coordinating member of Kongra Star, about the conference.

 Great sacrifices and efforts have been made to unite the Kurds, Elif Hamo stressed. “The Kurdish people have been struggling for years to strengthen Kurdish unity and promote national spirit among the people. The joint actions of the Kurdish political parties and the people in the region are one of the successes achieved by the Kurdish people.”

‘Women can take responsibility’

Kurdish women have a responsibility to defend their cause, Elif Hamo emphasized. “As the Kurdish Women’s Freedom Movement, we must play a leading role in this sensitive process and fulfill our responsibilities towards Kurdish national unity against violations aimed at breaking the will of women and society and causing them to lose their identity. Since the revolution in Rojava, women in North and East Syria have gained significant gains and experiences in all facets of life, including military, politics, economy, social life. Women can take responsibility to ensure the rights of the Kurdish people.”

‘The call of leader Öcalan strengthens unity’

Elif Hamo said that women welcomed and celebrated International Women’s Day, March 8, with great enthusiasm following the “Call for Peace and Democratic Society” by Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan. “The enthusiasm of March 8 and Newroz was also reflected in the conference. The message of leader Öcalan for women on International Women’s Day has strengthened the women’s unity. Participants of the 1st Kurdish Women’s Conference in Rojava confirmed that leader Öcalan's call would be the most appropriate solution to all problems. There are responsibilities that fall on women in the process that Kurdistan and the Middle East have been going through. One of the issues discussed at the conference was the role of women in ensuring national unity.”

‘The word ‘democracy’ has lost its meaning in the new Syrian constitution’

The call of Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan represents a renaissance for women in promoting democracy and equality in society, Elif Hamo said, adding:

“The historic call paves the way for women to take on a responsibility to unite. At the Kurdish Women’s Conference, women determined goals for the future of Syria. Women participating in the conference noted that the new Syrian constitution did not represent them and it represented a centralized, sectarian system and would not guarantee the rights of Syrian identities and women. They demanded a new constitution respecting the rights of all ethnic and religious groups in Syria, especially women’s rights. If the constitution is not amended, the conflict in Syria will deepen. The word ‘democracy’ has lost its meaning in the new Syrian constitution because the constitution does not recognize the existence and identity of women, the existence of many ethnic and religious groups.”

At the end of her speech, Elif Hamo emphasized that women must struggle more against tyrannical and authoritarian regimes. “The constitution must be redrafted to ensure the rights of all ethnic and religious groups in Syria. The return of the displaced people of Afrin, Serêkanîyê (Ras al-Ayn) and Girê Spî (Tell Abyad) must be ensured. Security and stability must be restored in Syria. Kurdish national unity can restore security and stability in Syria.”