New Middle East begins in Sulaymaniyah at women's hands - Huthami Mahjoob

Can women's initiatives in the Middle East and North Africa bring about a real and sustainable change in the reality of women? This challenge concerns the Nada Alliance because it reflects a fateful battle fought by the women of the region against a history of marginalization, under the weight of a politically and security-wise turbulent reality.

In the city of Sulaymaniyah, a witness to major transformations and a vibrant center of culture and civil resistance, the Nada Alliance convened for its first conference, bringing together women's voices from 19 countries. The gathering was neither festive nor traditional; rather, it was a space to redefine priorities and define new boundaries for feminist action, transcending slogans and going directly to the heart of the dilemmas: wars, systematic violence, displacement, marginalization, and male dominance in all its manifestations.

Remarkably, the participating women did not carry with them grievances; rather, they brought with them projects, proposals, and implementable ideas. Discussions were grounded in real-world situations, where there is no time for theory, and were based on a simple yet essential principle: dignity is not granted, but rather earned through feminist organization, action, and solidarity.

In intensive sessions, the conference became a laboratory for ideas, where women discussed how to overcome fragmentation, activate cross-border alliances, and build support networks based on experience rather than theory. The concept of "Feminist Revolution" was not presented as a radical slogan, but rather as a profound transformation targeting the social and political structure that relegates women to secondary roles in decision-making.

What distinguished this meeting from others was the boldness of its approach and the clarity with which it defined the tools of confrontation. The workshops were not merely organizational trappings, but rather platforms for training, deconstruction, and analysis. They addressed issues of sexual violence, economic empowerment, political presence, and combating discrimination in all its forms. Each discussion was accompanied by real experiences, figures, and stories, used not to arouse pity but to mobilize.

At a pivotal moment, the participants announced the establishment of the "Global Democratic Women's Confederation," as a unifying entity that encompasses women's energies and provides them with a common framework for work and influence. This initiative is not a new bureaucratic structure, but a militant umbrella that stems from a long accumulation and diverse feminist experiences, aiming to protect women and expand their spaces in the public sphere.

What emerged from Sulaymaniyah is not just a closing statement. It is a declaration of a new collective consciousness and a clear decision that the time for waiting for justice has ended. Women in the Middle East are no longer in a defensive position; they are at the heart of the battle for the future. From the womb of pain, visions are born, and from the chaos of reality, willpower is born. From a city that stood firm against the winds, a roadmap for a more just and inclusive Middle East was born.

T/S
ANHA