A women’s revolution began twelve years ago in North and East Syria, known as Rojava. The inhabitants of the multicultural and multiethnic region, which was able to liberate itself from the Assad regime in the course of the Arab spring, have since been demonstrating that an alternative to nation state systems is possible. An autonomous administration based on the principles of a democratic nation, women’s liberation as well as an ecologically just society is a reality in Rojava. Society is self-organised into communes, councils, cooperatives and academies – it is a revolution from below. This seminar will explain the methods and mechanisms of the autonomous administration, based on the newly developed social contract as well as the achievements and difficulties encountered while setting up the revolution.
Remziye Mihemed is a women’s rights activist who has been organising women in the region since the 1990s. This organisation of women was the keystone for the women’s revolution that started in 2012. Remziye, who was born in Qamishlo in 1977, was a founding member of the women’s organisation Kongra Star in 2005 and has been a member since then. Since the beginning of the revolution in Rojava, Remziye has been involved in the establishment of people’s councils and became chair of the people’s council in Qamishlo in 2012. After the introduction of the system of co-chairs, she became co-chair of the people’s council of Qamishlo. From 2014, she was co-chair of the finance committee in the canton of Cezire of the Autonomous Administration. Since 2019, she has been speaker and is now coordinating member of Kongra Star.
