ROJ HOZAN

Qamishlo- The roles and rights of women are not included in the constitutions of Middle Eastern countries. Women are seen as deficient and this mindset is imposed on society. After the revolution in Rojava, women in NE Syria have changed this mindset. Women are pioneers in politics and society.  Ster Qasim, member of the North and East Syrian Women's Council Coordination, spoke to NuJINHA about the changes in society after the revolution in Rojava.

Stating that the constitution consists of principles enacted by the state to put society in order, Ster Qasim said, “Each state first issues a constitution to make itself permanent in the world. The constitution includes laws about politics, society, the economy, and human rights. Some of the principles of the constitution are formal and some are objective. Of course, the formal ones are fundamentals. Laws are enacted on these fundamentals. These principles form the core functions of a constitution. Formal principles reveal whether states are democratic or not.”

“Women’s rights were ignored”

Stating that all constitutions of Syria ignored women’s rights, Ster Qasim said, “The existence of women in the constitutions remained formal but women were not included in decision-making mechanisms. We can say that the rights of women were violated. In some places, women's rights were violated in the name of religion, and this was believed in the society. When Syria gained independence from France in 1946, there were several developments for women; they were allowed to work. Men wrote constitutions for their own interests again. The Syrian constitution was not in accordance with international principles; its principles were based on customs and traditions.”

“Women have been writing the laws that concern them”

Underlining that they want to write a constitution based on the Democratic Nation in NE Syria, Ster Qasim said, “Women play a leading role in the development of society. We are not a state, we are an Autonomous Administration. We have social contracts. Women have made their existence permanent in the region. People from all ethnic groups take part in the decision-making process with their own culture, identity and color. Women are active in every part of life. Women have been writing the laws that concern them. If the women in Syria work together, they will become stronger.”