DELAL REMEZAN

Hasakah- Armenian women living in North and East Syria founded the Armenian Women’s Union of North and East Syria to bring Armenian women in the region together, promote their rights, learn their mother language and preserve Armenian culture.

In an interview with NuJINHA, Anahid Qasabian, head of the union, which announced its foundation by holding its first congress in Hasakah Canton on August 30, 2022, talked about the aims and activities of the union.

 “Armenian women have taken part in the revolution in Rojava since the beginning; they have taken part in the military and the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria. The aim of the union is to make Armenian women more active in society and preserve their own culture and identity,” Anahid Qasabian told us.

 It was founded 107 years after the Armenian Genocide

Anahid Qasabian indicated that they went through a long and difficult process until they founded the union. “We held about 80 meetings across North and East Syria. We reached all Armenian women in the region because we aim to unite all Armenian women. We held the first congress of the union in Hasakah 107 years after the Armenian Genocide. At the congress, we determined a road map to preserve Armenian culture and Armenian women’s rights. As Armenian women, we try to return to our original roots.”

 ‘We hold activities for the Armenian community all around the world’

Speaking about the activities of the union, she said, “We formed committees. Some of these committees hold courses for women. Armenian women learn their culture, language and history by attending these courses. In addition, they break the patriarchal mindset that restricts them and the customs and traditions in society created by this mindset. Our aim is to support Armenian women in order to participate in all facets of life. Our committees, the Culture Committee, the Economy Committee, the Defense Committee and the Foreign Affairs Committee make great efforts to make Armenian women more active in all facets of life. The Foreign Affairs Committee aims to make contact with all Armenian women’s organizations and movements.”

 

‘The revolution in Rojava has given opportunities for women’

Losnak Kaforyan, a member of the Armenian Women’s Union of North and East Syria, also spoke to NuJINHA about their union. “At the end of 2019, the Armenian Social Council was founded for the unity of Armenians in North and East Syria. Armenian women living in North and East Syria decided to establish their own union so that they would protect themselves against genocidal attacks. The revolution in Rojava, also known as women’s revolution, has given opportunities for women to participate in all facets of life and prove their existence,” she told us.

At the end of her speech, Losnak Kaforyan drew attention to the ongoing Turkish attacks on the region. “As women, we must make more efforts to make the voices of women heard all around the world. The Ottoman Empire attacked the Armenians by using all kinds of brutal methods. Today, the Turkish state has targeted all nations in North and East Syria, including Armenians, Kurds and Arabs. We call on the international community not to remain silent against the ongoing Turkish attacks.”