Many events in the autonomous region of Northern and Eastern Syria are taking place to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on 25 November.

This year's activities of the women's associations in the region are organized under the slogan "Defend yourselves with the Jin, Jiyan, Azadî philosophy" and aim to create awareness in society and empower women through education and high-profile campaigns.

Education workshop for men

A three-day educational workshop for men began on Tuesday in Amûdê. Sixty men are taking part in the workshop organized by the women's association Kongra Star on the topics of "Family Laws", "Living in a Free Partnership" and "Social Sexism". With this program, Kongra Star wants to draw attention to the fight against patriarchal violence and oppression and create awareness of gender equality.

Seminars on the fight against patriarchal thinking

Further seminars by Kongra Star took place on Tuesday in Til Hemîs and Shedadê and were aimed at society as a whole. Speakers from the women's association spoke about the causes and forms of violence against women and initiated a discussion about measures to curb this problem. At the seminar in Til Hemîs, writings by the Kurdish people’s leader Abdullah Öcalan on the fight against patriarchy and traditional ways of thinking about the role of women were read.

The role of women in politics and society

In Til Temir, Hol and Dirbêsiyê, activists from Kongra Star distributed information on the fight against violence against women and girls. The Women's Council of the Future Party of Syria held a symposium in Tabqa on the topic of "Women in Politics". Representatives of the Autonomous Administration and the Arab Women's Union Zenobiya also attended the event. The participants discussed the influence of women in building grassroots democratic structures and the problems that women continue to face in political and social institutions. At an event organized by the Aleppo Intellectuals Association in the Şêxmeqsûd district, the negative influence of male rule on society as a whole and the importance of freedom were discussed.

Men protest violence against women

In Fafîn in the Afrin-Shehba canton, hundreds of men took to the streets to protest violence against women. The participants carried banners reading "Defend yourselves with the Jin, Jiyan, Azadî philosophy" and "No to femicide".

A spokeswoman for Kongra Star said that the assignment of roles in the patriarchal system of rule also enslaves men. The co-cantonal chair, Mihemed Şêxo, pointed out that women's freedom is a prerequisite for a free society and that liberation can only be achieved together. "With the philosophy of Rêber Apo [Abdullah Öcalan], we will smash the dominant mentality and liberate society."

Events of Yazidi and Muslim women

The women's committee of the Yazidi Association in Afrin-Shehba held a seminar in Ehdas on the topic of violence against women and called for protective mechanisms. In Raqqa, an event of the Women's Council in the Democratic Islamic Congress was organized. A speaker described violence against women as shameful and despotic behavior that must be fought every day.