„Especially for women, self-defense is the first step. Why? Because women are the ones who are most targeted by violence, attacks, massacres, beatings and all other forms of violence.“ When we think of Rojava, we often think of the courageous YPJ fighters who are defending the women’s revolution. That is truly special. We need units like that all over the world. This is because, at all times and everywhere, we …
The Druze, an ethno-religious group present primarily in southern Syria, have been targeted in two major attacks this year, resulting in thousands of deaths and around one hundred thousand people displaced. The violence involved extrajudicial killings, religious persecution, and systematic abuses against women. The perpetrators are linked to the Damascus interim government forces and allied militias. This fact-sheet details the massacres, their sectarian motivations, the humanitarian impact, and the urgent …
On the occasion of the 13th anniversary of the women’s revolution in Rojava, Kongra Star has published a brochure on the history of the revolution and the current dangers.
13 Years Of Struggle Against Patriarchy And For Women’s Liberation. Thirteen years ago, a revolution began in North and East Syria that has fundamentally changed life and society in the region. As the uprisings in Syria began, the Kurdish people seized their historic opportunity to organise themselves into communes and councils in the Kurdish-majority region of Rojava (Western Kurdistan). In doing so, they laid the foundations for a continually evolving …
It is summer: Harvest time. Here at the Navenda Jiyan Natural Health Center, seeds are collected every day. Plants are watered, bees are fed, potatoes are harvested, and flowers and leaves are diligently picked. The results of this laborious work are gathered in the drying room, where they slowly dried to be used later for medicinal purposes by the Centre. Other items are processed directly into oil or distilled: to …
This month’s newsletter highlights the ongoing campaign for Abdullah Öcalan’s freedom ‘I want to see Öcalan ’ and the demands for his freedom from women in North and East Syria. We update on recent efforts for peace, the challenges of sectarian violence, and we remember past massacres: the threat of the mercenaries is still alive. Assemblies about the co-presidency system demonstrate the progress of women’s leadership. Finally, we share with …
“When we arrived in Jinwar, women and children came out of their houses to greet us. There was an atmosphere of joy and curiosity – a desire to know each other, our different stories and our shared visions.” Julia, an internationalist describes her arrival in Jinwar, a women’s village in North and East Syria. Jinwar is home to many different women that have decided to join the community for a …
The first congress of the Regional Democratic Women’s Coalition in the Middle East and North Africa (NADA) took place in Suleymaniya on May 15th, 16th, and 17th, 2025. Around 200 women from 19 different countries participated, including representatives from Kurdistan, Afghanistan, Palestine, Iran, and others. This congress was a strategic event for women and society in the Middle East and North Africa, as well as an important step toward building …
Hîlala Zêrîn translates to “golden crescent moon” and refers to the Fertile Crescent, the territory between the Zagros and Taurus mountains. This region was the birthplace of the Neolithic revolution and the location of the earliest civilizations and cities. Archaeologists have also found evidence of ancient matriarchal societies in the Fertile Crescent. Hîlala Zêrîn is a women’s cultural movement which links cultural techniques and historical research to women’s liberation. Women …
