Aven Sweid: This century as era of women and democratic Syria

The Women’s Consultative Forum, organized by the Kongra Star under the slogan "Let’s Build a Democratic Syria Together," continues with the participation of about 500 representatives from North and East Syria in person. They represent Kurds, Arabs, Assyrian Syriacs, Alawites, and Armenians. Additionally, women from Damascus, Aleppo, As-Suwayda, and the coast joined via videoconference.

In this context, Aven Sweid, the Co-Chair of the Executive Council of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria, delivered a speech at the forum. She began by warmly greeting all attendees, women’s movements, political parties, and representatives of various communities and beliefs.

She noted that the revolutions of peoples, which initially demanded freedom, equality, and justice, were hijacked by dominant regimes to serve their interests in the region. The same policy was applied in Syria. However, the people of North and East Syria, alongside democratic parties and figures, continued to resist these policies and have protected their revolution to this day. This revolution is known as a social, political, cultural, and women’s revolution.

Sweid highlighted that women have played an active role throughout the history of the Middle East, consistently taking the lead in all aspects of community life. Women were revered as goddesses and, even in Syria, figures like Zenobia left their mark on the nation’s rich history. Women participated in all facets of life, from politics to the arts, and their presence has always been significant. She added: "However, this vital role of women was obstructed by the Baath regime. Women's rights were not safeguarded in the Syrian constitution, and women could not organize independently. Instead, all women’s organizations were tied to and controlled by the ruling system and men."

She explained that the status of women in Syria reflected the condition of Syrian society as a whole. "With the first phases of the revolution, women flooded into the squares, yearning for freedom, and raised their voices against millennia of enslavement. This participation grew like a whirlwind, becoming stronger, spreading, and influencing their surroundings."

Sweid mentioned that women from all backgrounds, parties, and women’s organizations in North and East Syria held hundreds of meetings and formed clear views on strengthening women's unity. They engaged in politics, diplomacy, economics, social work, healthcare, education, and other aspects of life. To protect their community, women became a global example, embodied by the Women’s Protection Units (YPJ), which led the fight against ISIS and introduced the world to the women’s revolution.

"In the spirit of strengthening their unity, women organized themselves in every commune, neighborhood, party, and institution. From addressing family issues to analyzing and solving problems, and ultimately to building the autonomous administration system, women created their own structures and established dozens of women’s institutions and councils. The goal was to ensure that no woman remained unorganized, uniting women’s strength and demonstrating a singular will for leadership. This goal has been achieved."

Sweid pointed out that at the start of the revolution, through strong internal diplomacy, women became a key part of building the autonomous administration system in 2014, securing representation quotas for women. Since then, they have fought for and achieved equal representation in co-chair positions and decision-making processes concerning all aspects of life. "Women have proven their willpower by organizing within their structures, participating in discussions, and making decisions regarding women's issues."

She underscored that this accomplishment came through significant effort and struggle. "Women have demonstrated their capabilities in all areas, earning respect after decades of marginalization." She highlighted that the patriarchal system, represented by the national state authorities, does not accept women’s agency. As a result, women have become targets of these regimes, facing horrific attacks, including violations of their bodies and desecration of female fighters' corpses. In areas occupied by Turkey, special policies against women, such as abduction, torture, rape, murder and all dirty practices are enforced.

"However, women, through their determination, rejected all assaults and made resistance part of their daily lives. The stance of mothers and families of martyrs stands as evidence."

Sweid noted that with the fall of the previous Baath regime, Syrians hoped to establish a pluralistic democratic system where women could reclaim their historical role. After 14 years of crisis, Syrians realized that their suffering stemmed from the suppression of ethnic and religious diversity, silencing women’s voices, and banning their organizations.

She added: "Therefore, we, the Syrian people in general, and women in particular, must deal with the new situation with great sensitivity. Syrians must learn from the experiences before and during the revolution. We must recognize how our situation as women was before the revolution, the pain and oppression we endured, how our role was excluded in the governance system, and how our situation evolved during the revolution with all its joys and difficulties up until today. We must also reflect on our experience in building the women's system and the form of autonomous administration, from communes to councils, which includes all components, Kurds, Arabs, Assyrian Syriacs, Armenians, Turkmens, Circassians, Yazidis, and Alawites, each contributing their own view and perspective. This system can serve as a model for building a decentralized, democratic Syria governed by the principles of freedom and justice."

She pointed out that the space for women today is more open than ever to raise their voices, strengthen their connections, and build unity on a national level to protect the revolution and safeguard women's achievements, ensuring their legal recognition in the new Syrian system. She said, "This is our collective duty today, and the level of struggle must rise. This is a historical responsibility that falls on the shoulders of all women."

Sweid addressed the current situation in Syria, saying, "From the news being published and the practices being carried out, Syrians’ hopes for establishing a new Syria, where every individual can express themselves with their unique perspective, opinion, and identity, have diminished. Doubts are increasing that a system excluding women is being built." She questioned, "To what extent is what currently exists on the ground enough to fulfill dreams and account for the effort and price women have paid? Especially as women have suffered the most, from displacement to abduction and targeting."

She continued: "We must have stronger reactions to these practices, condemn and expose them, and raise awareness among all women through our relationships. We must highlight what fulfills women's aspirations, which is the democratic autonomous administration model of North and East Syria. Discussions related to Syrian women must be conducted with women to reach decisions concerning them. We must take the lead in building the new Syrian constitution and share our experiences with all women. Today, we are in greater need of a special agreement concerning women. On this basis, today's forum holds great importance and is entirely unique. Our gathering is a significant message, and of course, it will produce results worthy of the stage and a response to the work and struggle carried out so far."

The Co-Chair of the Executive Council of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria concluded her speech by saying, "On behalf of all of you, and in the name of the martyrs Beritan Shorsh, Ronahi Yekta, and Cîhan Bîlgîn, I remember all the martyrs of the revolution and salute the resistance of the Syrian Democratic Forces fighters, led by the Women's Protection Units, who have inscribed the names of Qereqozaqê Bridge and Tishrin Dam in the pages of history. The embrace of our people for their fighters and their support for Autonomous Administration is an honor. I also salute the Kurds and the friends of North and East Syria for their support and solidarity. Together, let us make the 21st century the century of women and ensure the building of a decentralized, democratic Syria."

A-H

ANHA