SORGUL ŞÊXO

Hasakah- Kongra Star, an umbrella organization for women in North and East Syria, has announced its program for the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.  The organization will kick off its activities on November 13. Madlên Al-Ibêd, Spokesperson of Kongra Star in the Til Temir town of Hasakah, told us that they would hold their activities this year with the participation of many organizations, political parties and women’s committees.

‘Women and children are most affected by the attacks’

In her speech, Madlên El-Ibêd pointed out that the ongoing Turkish attacks on the region are an extreme form of violence against women.

“The attacks on the region directly target civilians, including women and children. Women and children are most affected by the attacks. Women are subjected to many forms of violence such as physical, verbal, psychological and sexual violence. Women live amid attacks and bombardments; they suffer from sleep anxiety due to the ongoing bombardments. They do not know if they will wake up the next day.”

‘The attacks are the product of the patriarchal mindset’

Noting that violence against women stems from the patriarchal mindset, she said, “The attacks on civilians, especially on women, are the product of the patriarchal mindset. The weapons used against us are produced by men. They do everything to destroy societies. Women are the foundation of society and the current attacks aim to destroy this foundation. The aim of dominant systems is to eliminate democracy, equality and justice by imposing dictatorship and authority.”

‘We make efforts to start a women's renaissance’

Madlên El-Ibêd also gave information about the program of Kongra Star for the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. “Women are subjected to violence all around the world. Every day, the cases of violence against women are reported by channels, radio stations, newspapers and on social media platforms. As Kongra Star, we fight violence against women for years. We make efforts to start a women’s renaissance to eliminate gender-based violence. As part of our activities for International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, we will hold meetings and seminars in villages, towns and cities.  Our aim is to shed light on women's rights and violence against them.”

Kongra Star will also hold seminars for defense units. “We will hold seminars and meetings for the members of the defense units. On November 25, we will hold a march with the participation of all segments.”

‘We must support women’

Speaking about the ongoing attacks on the region, she said, “Our region is always targeted by the Turkish state. Women living in the areas targeted by the Turkish state face many problems. We must support these women by organizing education programs to eliminate violence against them.”

The main goal of Kongra Star is to ensure peace in the region. “We want women to have a safe and peaceful life. We make great efforts to end this war because women will have a safe and peaceful life when this war ends. We can eliminate violence against women by stopping wars and change the patriarchal mindset. Changing a thousand-year-old mindset will take years but we work to change it.”