In the current situation of attacks on Kobane, Minbij and the whole project of the Democratic Autonomous Administration in North and East Syria, we introduce yet another important organisation: SARA. To build hope and achieve peace we have to focus on all the non-governmental organisations and civil societal projects built in Rojava and beyond and keep in mind what solutions to war and terror have already been established. In war times, these projects are more important than ever. They strengthen bonds and establish peace in everyday life for women, children and everyone else in society. On a global level, networks woven between women thriving for peace and an end to violence against women is key for a democratic world society.

Making violence against women, history.
SARA was founded in 2013 as a non-governmental organisation to combat violence and all forms of discrimination against women. Its aim is to educate and empower women, so women can identify their problems and will have the strength to organise and find solutions.
The organisation works in all areas of North and East Syria with offices in Qamishlo, Al-Hasakah, Kobani, Sirin, Ain Issa, Aleppo, Shehba, the Newroz, Wasokani and Serekaniye camp – and soon also in Raqqa. In this context SARA strives to work for women of all ethnicities, nationalities and religions. Violence against women has many different faces and SARA is using different methods and ways to combat gendered violence. It aims to raise the level of women in terms of social, cultural, health and legal aspects and opposes all forms of violence and discrimination against women. It works to strengthen assaulted women in their role inside family and society by providing psychological, economical, and social support. And it aims to change the societal mindset concerning women and violence against women.
To do so, SARA organises educations about the rights of women and all the topics linked to this – also ‘culture and society’ is a topic which helps to get into contact. SARA also provides legal counselling and it is the only institution allowed to represent women in front of the court and support their legal cases in case of (attempted) femicide or heavy violence. In this context SARA also seeks to advocate in the development of women’s laws, and works on monitoring and documenting cases of violence (statistics on femicide, suicide of women, rape, domestic violence, underage marriage, polygamy).

Being on our feet all day to end patriarchal violence – An internationalist shares her experience
Paula is an internationalist activist sharing with us her experience from working at SARA:
It is the 6th of November and the campaign for the 25th of November for the Day against Violence against Women begins, which means that every day one or more cars of the civil society organisations drive to the towns and villages around the city of Qamishlo to provide seminars there. Not only here, but in the entire region of the Democratic Autonomous Administration, from all offices, these initiatives are raised.
We start these action weeks with a joint meeting of women from children’s associations, initiatives for people with disabilities, activists of a women’s foundation, religious institutions and others. Together we read an analysis of the situation of women worldwide, discuss it and agree on slogans at the end. The session ends with a powerful ‘Jin Jiyan Azadi’.
The trips to the villages or to the communities in the cities are one main focus of SARA’s work. While some of us hold two seminars – one in Kurdish and one in Arabic – in two villages, we drop off another colleague at court, where she is appearing as a joint plaintiff in a femicide trial.
The seminars are organised by the local communities. Sometimes only women take part, but often men come too, and there are always children who are usually able to keep themselves busy.
The presentations often last 30-60 minutes and are usually followed by talks or discussions.
Women have personal questions on the topic or the whole room discusses the economic situation of women and society in general. The aim is to introduce the work of SARA, to make the Family Law (constituting the rights of women as basis for a democratic family) known and to make it clear that women are the basis of society.
We often end up talking to each other afterwards, having a cup of tea while we wait for the car to collect us. Often it is in these moments that the most crucial and deep discussions take place.
In the following days and weeks, there are actions for the imprisoned female activists in Iran, many meetings and seminars, countless media interviews and formats, panels at the university and online events with women’s structures around the world. At the same time, we distribute brochures, stick posters on front doors and store windows. Some of the people we meet are active in the communities themselves and know about the 25.11. campaigns, some are hearing about them for the first time. When the opportunity arises, we hold spontaneous seminars – “Here are five women, let’s have a short seminar”, said my colleague. And then we sit together in a circle over tea and talk about the history of the Mirabal sisters, their struggle and their legacy (the femicide of the Mirabal sisters’ was the starting point to establish the 25. November).
On November 25, we load all our flags, signs, banners, colleagues and children into the car and drive to the starting point of the demonstration. Before everyone arrives, we get ready, take the first photos, hand out flags to those arriving and dance to the music coming from the loudspeaker van.
It is very clear to everyone here that 25.11. does not stand for itself, but is above all a time to make the efforts and the aims even more visible. This year, the focus is on the violence experienced by women and children as a result of occupation. The experience of war, expulsion and foreign rule affects and destroys women in particular, that is the bitter reality. Three days after the demonstration, we will go to the “Afrin roundabout” remembering the 58 days of resistance against Turkish occupation in 2018. We use balloons, banners and strong speeches as well as slogans to highlight the situation of women in the areas controlled by Turkey and its militias. There is often little information from there, but we know that many women are disappearing, being raped and murdered. It is clear to everyone here that these areas are still part of the region of the Democratic Autonomous Administration and will one day be liberated.
The campaign is not over for SARA on November 25th. It will continue until the end of the year and will take place alongside the day-to-day schedule. The activists continue to have daily meetings and court hearings. It is an impressive and overwhelming workload for the women. What I see here above all is how deeply rooted the work is in society. There is a strong interaction between the various organisations, which support each other and thus the social contract and women’s principles in order to defeat violence. In addition, a lot of things happen spontaneously. Everyday life is based on the political and social situation, not on bureaucratic procedures.
In order to overcome the feudal, patriarchal mentality, many important steps have been taken here from which we can learn a lot. Together we will manage to end the violence against us and build a peaceful world – I am even more convinced of this now.


