Hasakah- In the city of Hesekê in North and East Syria, the women’s conference titled “The Unity of Women as the Foundation for Building Justice and Democracy in a United and Decentralized Syria”, organized by Kongra Star and the Zenubya Women’s Community, continues. With broad participation of women, the presentations and discussions reflect women’s experiences and diverse perspectives.

‘Women are shaping Syria’s future out of their pain and resistance’

Kongra Star spokesperson Rihan Loqo, in her speech at the conference, stated that this historic gathering is an important step at a time when women in Syria are subjected to systematic violations, increasing violence, and exclusion. Rihan Loqo said:

“Today we are coming together; the aim is not to inherit the ruins, but to build Syria with the hands of women and to create a country shaped by their pain and resistance.”

Rihan Loqo emphasized that the collapse of the Ba’ath regime was not the end of oppression, but rather the reproduction of the male-dominated mentality under new disguises. She pointed out that the massacres in the Alawite and Sweida regions, as well as the practices of the jihadist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, demonstrate that oppression against women continues. Under these circumstances, she stressed that women will not accept a system that persecutes under religious or political pretexts.

In her speech, Rihan Loqo also referred to the history of women’s struggle in Syria, underlining the importance of women’s participation in resistance against colonialism and in social and political struggles. She stated that with the rise of the Ba’ath to power, women experienced systematic exclusion for years, with political decisions monopolized and freedoms restricted. Even today, despite the collapse of the centralized system, women are facing even more intense and overt forms of oppression.

Rihan Loqo explained that Kongra Star was founded twenty years ago as an initiative that saw women’s freedom as the key to the freedom of society, and that this initiative has transformed into a genuine women’s revolution inspired by the philosophy of “Jin, jiyan, azadî” (Women, Life, Freedom). She added that thousands of women have actively achieved historic gains in politics, governance, defense, and the economy, and today this revolution has ensured that women are recognized as a leading force in the construction of society.

YPJ, the Symbol of Resistance

Rihan Loqo drew attention to the emergence of the Women’s Protection Units (YPJ) in North and East Syria. Rihan Loqo stated: “YPJ, by resisting Turkish occupation, ISIS, and ultra-nationalist mentalities, proved that women are not only victims, but also the first defenders of freedom and achievements.”

Emphasizing that the future of Syria must be a democratic, decentralized, and pluralistic system, Rihan Loqo stressed that women must be represented in all political processes by at least 50 percent. She said: “Without women, no constitution can be written, no peace can be achieved, and no justice can be established in Syria.”

Rihan Loqo also noted that, within the framework of transitional justice, women must be at the forefront in documenting human rights violations and prosecuting perpetrators.

Rihan Loqo continued her speech with the following words: “Among the national goals of the conference are building a democratic and decentralized Syria, protecting the rights of all women and communities, ensuring women’s representation of over 50 percent in state and local councils, drafting a new constitution, and securing the rule of law by separating religion from the state.”

‘Women Have Proven Themselves as a Leading Force’

Speaking on behalf of the Zenubya Women’s Community, Khud Alî emphasized that the conference was not only an event, but also a turning point for Syrian women. She stated that the women of Raqqa, Tabqa, and Deir ez-Zor, despite ISIS’s massacres, abductions, rapes, stonings, and atrocities in slave markets, resisted and carried the responsibility of shaping the future.

Khud Alî highlighted that women, during this process, joined the YPJ and demonstrated organized resistance, proving that women are not only victims, but also one of the leading forces of society.

In her speech, Khud Alî pointed out that both women and men must take responsibility for Syria to achieve a democratic, decentralized, and pluralistic structure. Khud Alî stated: “The empowerment of women and the possession of equal rights are the fundamental conditions for building a democratic Syria.”

Syriac Women and of the Struggle

Speaking on behalf of the Syriac Women’s Union, Horo Silva Asia stated that the struggle of Syriac women is an inseparable part of the national and social struggle for freedom in Syria. She noted that women have continued to resist oppression and violations even after the collapse of the central government, emphasizing that in particular, in Sweida and coastal regions, women’s bodies have turned into a field of political and ideological conflict.

Horo Silva Asia underlined that social justice means ensuring equal rights, opportunities, and distribution of resources for all communities, and she pointed out that the historical roots of social justice go back to the civilizations of Mesopotamia, where regulations concerning women’s rights had existed since ancient times.

As part of the conference, a video presentation prepared by Kongra Star, depicting the history of the women’s revolution in North and East Syria, was screened. The event continues with speeches by women.