The Northern and Eastern Syria Women's Assembly carried out important works despite the Turkish attacks and invasion threats, as well as the embargo and siege that continue to affect the region.

Stêr Qasim, Coordination Member of the Northern and Eastern Syria Women's Council, spoke to ANF and stated that there are areas where they are still lacking and insufficient, and noted that they will carry out more determined and comprehensive work in the new year.

What level of struggle did you wage as the Northern and Eastern Syria Women's Council in 2022?

Women's struggle is an ongoing struggle. Despite comprehensive work, violence against women and inequality in society continue. The insistence of women in the struggle was instrumental in obtaining their rights. One of them is the law numbered 1325. Of course, despite all the decisions and laws, violence against women and social injustice have not come to an end. In our region, as it is known, we are in a war environment that has been going on for more than 10 years. Before this process, there was a great weakness in women's rights in Syria, violence was at the forefront. During the war, women faced violence in many fields and were forced to migrate. They had to leave their land because of the Turkish occupation and moved to camp life. The displacement meant economic impoverishment. The burden of women in society and at home has increased even more. War conditions, impoverishment and chaos increased violence against women. This year, we developed the Women's Law made in 2014 and signed the Family Law, which is the cornerstone of society. With this law, women's rights became official in the region and became an important ground for ensuring social justice. The articles were written to ensure equality, justice and prevent child marriages, and the region was rebuilt within the framework of these articles.

Do you think this level of challenge is enough?

Our agenda this year was full. Many steps were taken, but we fell short of completing certain tasks. Considering the attacks and threats carried out by the Turkish state on the one hand, and the threat posed by ISIS mercenaries on the other, I can state that our level of struggle has improved.

What kind of projects did you implement in 2022 and what was the level of success?

The Family Law was a great success for us and it was our most important project. We held a Northern and Eastern Syria Women's Conference across the Middle East on 24 March in the region with the slogan "Women in Syria are suffering under the Turkish state occupation". There is an intense war in the region and human rights are being violated. Therefore, it is important to describe the atmosphere of war and the destructive environment it brings. In this context, we had meetings with the French and American delegations. On the other hand, we took part in Social Contract activities in North-East Syria and made our contributions. Many panels were organized to support the women of the Middle East and the world. We had meetings to reach women in Syria, our dialogue has improved even more compared to last year.

There are women's deaths and child marriages in the region. What kind of a struggle, as the Assembly, did you wage against the male-dominated mentality? Is this level of struggle sufficient?

Women's organizations, civil society organizations and political parties' women's councils, together with 53 components, carry out many joint works. The most important thing is to continue the struggle against the male-dominated mentality. Education plays a key role in changing the mentality. All women's organizations in the region carried out the work of an academy opened specifically for men. Actually it was a success. Participating in training, addressing yourself, questioning the male-dominated mentality, even naming it is a big step. Dialogue between men and women was favoured by the Family Law and so was the level of communication between mother, father and child.

What kind of effort did you make in terms of education?

Educational activities of women's movements in Northern and Eastern Syria are carried out jointly with the parliament. We focus on legal, political and social education. We have female friends who do research and assume responsibility for the new laws that have been written. In addition, the education of the family is important for us in order to build a new society.

Due to the war conditions, there is constant internal migration. Thousands of women live in camps. Can you reach women in the camps?

Even if we are not in direct communication, the problems, difficulties and sufferings of women in the camps reach us thanks to the activities carried out by women's organizations. In short, the picture of the camps is shared with us, and a solution option is sought. The living conditions of the camps are clear, which is why on our agenda is the fact that the international forces are not taking concrete steps to address this. Our main policy is to liberate the occupied lands, and give them back to their owners, especially women and children, who live in camps. We are working to ensure their return home.

The tendency to emigrate is increasing from place to place. In particular, this migration wave consists of young people and recently young women who migrate for “marriage”. What are you doing to counter this?

Emigration is not unique to our region. It is experienced in every war-torn country. Economic, psychological and social problems are experienced in every region under threat. We see the reflection of this in child marriage as well. Along with the problems arising from not laying the family foundation correctly, the family mostly prefers to keep their child away from this environment, hoping to get a better future. We are absolutely against this situation and we do not find it right. It is definitely not right for the family to choose this path when it is necessary to struggle against the existing picture. The Women's Council and the Northern and Eastern Syria Autonomous Administration should also be able to develop solutions. Many women are still unaware of what their rights are and their mission and duty in society. While stating this, it is necessary to make self-criticism. In fact, we embodied our self-criticism with the completion of the Family Law, but it is not enough.

How are you preparing for the new year?

The 2nd Northern and Eastern Syria Women's Assembly Congress will be held soon. At the Congress, we will extensively discuss what we have achieved or what we have not in 2022. It will also be discussed why all projects were not put into practice in 2022. Of course, we will have new plans and projects for 2023 and they will become more concrete at the congress.