What Happened in 2025? Status of women in AANES' areas, Syria

Throughout 2025, dozens of women’s organizations and movements in North and East Syria, as well as in the city of Aleppo, carried out diverse activities. Their work spanned diplomatic, social, cultural, artistic, and protection-related fields, providing services to a broad segment of women.

In this annual report, we highlight the most significant activities and events that took place in North and East Syria and Aleppo, while also reviewing the overall situation of women in areas under the control of the transitional government, as well as in regions occupied by Turkey and its mercenaries.

North and East Syria and Aleppo

Women’s movements in North and East Syria began their preparations for 2025 by developing a program of activities for March 8 (International Women’s Day). In this context, the Joint Platform for Women’s Organizations and Movements announced its program under the slogan:
“With the philosophy of Women, Life, Freedom; toward a Democratic Syria.”

On March 23, 2025, the First Conference of Kurdish Women in Rojava was held under the slogan:

“The Leadership of Kurdish Women Guarantees Kurdish National Unity.”
The conference was attended by 300 women delegates representing political parties, intellectuals, writers, community figures, artists, and journalists, in addition to representatives of women’s organizations and movements, the Democratic Autonomous Administration, as well as women who came from Aleppo and Damascus.

On March 24, 2025, the Joint Platform for Women’s Organizations and Movements in North and East Syria launched a new initiative aimed at supporting women in disaster-stricken areas of Syria, under the slogan:
“Syrian Women’s Solidarity Is the Foundation for Stopping the Massacres Against Women on the Coast.”

On April 12, the Women’s Council of the Future Syria Party held a consultative forum in the city of Aleppo to discuss the rights and duties incumbent upon women in building a democratic Syria. The forum was attended by several political parties (the Popular Will Party, the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine, the Change and Renaissance Party, the Syrian Democratic Party, and the Democratic Union Party), the “Sarkhat Watan” Forum, the Syrian Democratic Council, as well as intellectual figures, academics, doctors, and engineers from Aleppo and Idlib.

On 30 July 2025, the Joint Platform of Women’s Organizations and Movements in North and East Syria organized a campaign under the slogan “Together to Support Women in Swedia in the Face of Genocide.”

At the end of July, the Sara Organization to Combat Violence Against Women launched an awareness campaign entitled “Sexual Exploitation Is a Crime… Do Not Participate in Covering It Up,” which continued until early October.

On 2 October, the Kurdish Red Crescent, in cooperation with the Health Authority of Jazira Canton and the Free Women’s Endowment in Syria, launched an awareness campaign under the slogan “Early Detection… A New Life.”

On 8 October, the Women’s Council of the Democratic Union Party (PYD) launched the sixth phase of its campaign to combat violence against women.

On 12 October 2025, Kongra Star and the Zenobia Women’s Gathering launched a campaign entitled “Through Women’s Alliance, We Will Build a Free, Democratic, Decentralized Syria,” which continued until 12 November.

On 8 November, the Fourth Conference of the Women’s Media Union (YRJ) was held in the city of Qamishlo.

On 15 November 2025, the Joint Platform of Women’s Organizations and Movements in North and East Syria organized a campaign under the slogan “Together We Build a Democratic, Communal Society to End Violence.”

On 16 November, the Women’s Authority of Jazira Canton launched a campaign on the occasion of World Children’s Day (20 November each year), which included a series of morale-boosting celebrations for children at child development centers and nurseries affiliated with the Authority.

Explaining the Co-Chair System to More Than 1,700 Men and Women

Under the sponsorship of the Zenobia Women’s Gathering and Kongra Star, a series of forums and conferences on the co-presidency system began in late May. The first conference was held in Raqqa on 27 July, followed by a series of forums and conferences in Aleppo, Qamishlo, Hasakah, al-Shaddadi, and Tel Tamr, with the participation of approximately 1,700 men and women.

Visits of Women’s Delegations

In order to ensure that the voices and demands of women in North and East Syria reach communities around the world, to highlight violations committed against women in Afrin, Jarablus, Girê Spî/Tal Abyad, and to introduce the Autonomous Administration system and the role and achievements of women in various fields during the 19 July Revolution, a women’s delegation from North and East Syria was formed.

The delegation included representatives from the Women’s Council of North and East Syria, Kongra Star, the Syriac Women’s Union, and the Zenobia Women’s Gathering, and carried out tours in several countries.

The delegation visited France, Germany, Belgium, and Switzerland, where it held approximately 50 meetings and dialogue sessions, participated in conferences and festivals, and met with numerous official bodies, political parties, communities, women’s organizations, human rights organizations, and civil associations.

Visit of Approximately 40 Women’s Delegations to the Region

According to information obtained from Kongra Star, approximately 40 women’s delegations, including lawyers, journalists, and women’s organizations from international civil society, visited North and East Syria between November 2024 and November 2025, with the aim of introducing the 19 July Revolution, also known as the Women’s Revolution.

Zenobia Women’s Gathering: 2,056 Meetings and 37 Training Courses

In the cantons of Tabqa, Raqqa, and Deir ez-Zor, the Zenobia Women’s Gathering organized 2,056 meetings aimed at communicating with women and the community, and held 1,417 activities, including campaigns, seminars, celebrations, and protest vigils, addressing various issues faced by people in Syria.

In the same cantons, 37 training courses were organized, including organizational training, reading the volumes of Leader Abdullah Ocalan, literacy courses, and training in sewing and hairdressing, with the participation of 678 women.

1,630 Women and Men Participate in Kongra Star Training Courses

Kongra Star organized a series of educational activities in the Jazira and Euphrates cantons, as well as in Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh neighborhoods of Aleppo, with the aim of strengthening the role of women and society, spreading women’s history and knowledge, and clarifying the call for “Peace and a Democratic Society.”

A total of 97 training courses were organized, with the participation of 1,601 women. In addition, a special training course for men was held, attended by 29 men.

Women’s Houses in the Euphrates and Jazira Cantons and Aleppo: 4,477 Cases

At Women’s Houses in cities and towns affiliated with the Euphrates and Jazira cantons, as well as in Aleppo (Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh neighborhoods), from December 2024 until 1 November 2025, a total of 4,477 cases were registered.
Of these, 2,295 cases were resolved, while 1,246 cases remain under review.

Among the cases referred to the courts were 659 cases related to domestic violence, early marriage, or violence. Additionally, 277 cases were referred to the competent authorities, and 280 cases related to harassment or cyber-attacks against women were addressed and resolved.

Ishtarout House: 50 Cases

From November 2024 to November 2025, Ishtarout House, which has centers in Derik, Tirbespî, Qamishlo, and Hasakah, recorded 50 cases. Of these, 28 cases were resolved, 4 cases are still under review, 9 cases were referred to the Women’s Council for Social Justice, and 3 cases were sent to court.

Women’s House in Raqqa, Tabqa, and Deir ez-Zor: 1,447 Cases

In the cantons of Raqqa, Tabqa, and Deir ez-Zor, from November 2024 until November 1, 2025, a total of 1,447 cases were registered at the Women’s House. Of these, 657 cases were resolved, 446 cases are still under review, 542 cases were referred to the Women’s Council for Social Justice, and 5 cases were sent to the relevant authorities.

Internal Security Forces – Women: 893 Crimes and Files

From November 2024 until November 1, 2025, the Women’s Internal Security Forces carried out two operations targeting gambling centers and individuals violating the law, resulting in the seizure of five sites. During this period, 71 crimes related to various violations against women were recorded. A total of 171 cases were addressed, while 651 files related to violence remain under follow-up.

Women’s Council for Social Justice: 5,032 Cases

From October 2024 to October 2025, 5,032 cases were registered at the Women’s House, courts, and the Women’s Internal Security Forces in the cantons of Jazira, Euphrates, Raqqa, Tabqa, Deir ez-Zor, in addition to Aleppo (the Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh neighborhoods). Of these, 2,459 cases were resolved, while 2,573 cases are still under review.

Free Women’s Endowment Supports More Than 13,000 People

The Free Women’s Endowment in Syria provided support to women and the wider community in the fields of education, health, diplomacy, and cooperative projects.

The Endowment organized 5,572 seminars on topics such as violence against women, early marriage, domestic violence, culture and ethics, women’s rights, and criticism, with the participation of 6,938 women. It also conducted 1,603 visits to homes and centers related to these same topics.

Additionally, the Endowment delivered 684 health-related seminars addressing women’s health, infertility, hygiene, herbal treatment, child health, mental health, and treatments related to diseases affecting the elderly, with the participation of 6,198 women. In the Endowment’s health centers in Qamishlo, Ad-Darbasiyah, Kobani, and Derik, 4,018 female patients were treated, while 1,954 cases received services through the Endowment’s mobile clinics.

To improve the economic and professional status of women, the Endowment provided training courses and practical projects in sewing, product manufacturing, nursing, computer skills, cooking, music, and the Kurdish and English languages, with the participation of 566 women.

The Endowment also organized exhibitions to support women artisans in Qamishlo, Aleppo, and Kobani, and this year it opened a handicrafts shop in the city of Raqqa.

Security Situation

The Women’s Internal Security Forces announced the launch of a security campaign in Roj Camp, which involved searching the camp and pursuing sleeper cells of ISIS mercenaries and their collaborators. The Women’s Protection Units (YPJ) also participated in a combing operation against ISIS mercenary cells in the city of Hasakah in Jazira Canton of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria. In addition, the Women’s Protection Units and the Women’s Internal Security Forces took part in a security campaign in al-Hol Camp in Hasakah.

Areas Under the Control of the Transitional Government

In contrast to the situation in North and East Syria, women in areas under the control of the transitional government face extremely difficult conditions, marked by rising levels of violence against them, including killing and kidnapping, as well as political and economic marginalization and exclusion.

From December 8, 2024, to the present, 650 women, including 29 girls, have been killed in crimes driven by various motives, including explosions caused by remnants of war, random gunfire, retaliatory or sectarian assassinations, as well as killings linked to domestic and social violence. These crimes were concentrated in Aleppo, Damascus, Homs, Hama, Rural Damascus, Daraa, Tartous, Quneitra, Latakia, Swedia, and the areas of Deir ez-Zor under their control.

In addition to killings, women from the Druze and Alawite communities were subjected to kidnappings, particularly during the events in Swedia and the coastal region. A total of 136 women, including girls, were documented as kidnapped. Local reports in Swedia also indicated that 65 women have been missing since the beginning of the current year, while the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights documented the disappearance or abduction of 97 persons, including women, since last January.

Following the deadly attack targeting the city of Swedia and its countryside, video footage spread showing women and young women carrying weapons and pledging to defend their city and its residents. At the same time, activists launched a digital campaign demanding the disclosure of the fate of the kidnapped women and accountability for those responsible for these violations. It was also announced that the Bashan Free Women Movement was established in Swedia, aiming to enhance women’s participation in public life, defend their rights, empower them, and place particular emphasis on the issue of abducted women and community-based work.

Occupied Areas

In the same context, attacks and violations against women continue in areas occupied by Turkey and its mercenaries, particularly in Afrin, Serekaniye (Ras al-Ayn), Tal Abyad (Girê Spî), and Manbij—areas that were occupied during 2018, 2019, and 2024. Due to the difficulty of accessing these areas and the inability to conduct comprehensive field surveys, the real figures remain unknown, and reliance is placed on data received by institutions combating violence against women.

According to documentation by the Research and Protection Center for Women’s Rights, between November 2024 and November 1 of the current year, 25 women were killed, 37 women were injured, and 23 women were kidnapped in the cities of Afrin, Serekaniye, and Tal Abyad.

The Afrin-based Human Rights Organization reported that during the same period, 14 women were killed in Afrin, 22 women were injured as a result of acts of violence, and 30 women were kidnapped, whose fate remains unknown to this day.

According to the Syrian Human Rights Organization, 19 women were killed and 36 others injured in Manbij Canton during drone attacks, armed attacks, and explosions between January and September of the current year. In Afrin, 7 women were killed as a result of armed attacks and suicide cases, and 3 other women were injured.

ANHA