NESRÎN KELEŞ

Qamishlo- Evin Cuma, director of the NE Syrian Cizire Region Human Rights Organization, pointed out that the increase in femicides in North and East Syria poses a threat to society, and pointed out that this increase causes divisions and insecurity. Stating that the mitigation of sentences given to the murderers encourages criminals to commit crimes, Evin Cuma said that social awareness has increased after the revolution in Rojava, particularly in the regions of NE Syria. She also talked about how the increasing number of women’s centers and women’s participation in society after the revolution had a positive impact on neighboring regions and countries.

“Families are schools of societies”

Evin Cuma stated that efforts have been made to find a solution to the suffering of women, particularly in the North and East Syrian regions, and underlined that society cannot change by only enacting laws in favor of women, “Families are the schools of societies. If they raise their children correctly, the rate of femicide will decrease,” she added.

“Women are killed in the name of honor”

Evin Cuma noted that in most femicide cases, the murderers go unpunished because they say they killed women to protect their “honor”. “If the murderer is brother, the family says ‘we lost our daughter, we don’t want to lose out son, too.’ Thus, the family demands the release of their son. Honor has become a mask that hides the true cause of conflicts in the family.”

“Deterrence laws should be enacted and implemented”

Emphasizing that laws that criminalize violence against women and deter femicide should be enacted, Evin Cuma said, “If gender-based violence is prevented, femicide will be also prevented. No matter how strict laws are, if they are not implemented, they cannot serve society.”

“NGOs have an important role”

Stating that NGOs have an important role in raising awareness of the public, Evin Cuma said, “Laws must be enacted wisely to serve society. There has already been a change in the North and East Syrian regions and honor killings are seen as a crime.”

On April 11, a 20-year-old pregnant woman was killed by her husband in the city of Çilaxa, northeastern Syria. Speaking about this incident, Evin Cuma told us that the murderer has been arrested but the investigation hasn't been completed yet. “The man claims he had no intention of killing her but we, as Human Rights Organization, will follow the case to protect her rights and the rights of all women.”

“Parents should raise their children on equal terms”

Underlining that if gender-based violence is prevented by the law, the rate of femicide will decrease, Evin Cuma said, “Parents should raise their children on equal terms so that a society without violence can be built.”