Today marks the international day of the elimination of violence against women. This is a special day for us in Northeast Syria. In less than a decade, we have gone from living under the horrors of ISIS rule to building a functioning system of self-governance in which women and men share power equally. This is not a slogan or a promise for the future. It is the reality of our governance structure.
This shift did not happen overnight, and it is far from complete. But the changes are visible. Women now sit alongside men in every civilian and political institution. They lead security forces, social programs, and community councils. The idea that women should participate equally is no longer treated as unusual; it has become a basic assumption of how our society works.
This undergirds our justice system as well. We have women-run restorative justice centers that intervene in cases of domestic abuse, forced marriage, and threats of honor killing. These centers are not symbolic. Their decisions are enforced by a women’s police force. These units coordinate with men but do not take orders from them. For women seeking protection, that independence makes all the difference. They know they are entering into a system that understands their situation and will stand with them.
That is why the 25th of November matters so much here. Across Northeast Syria, it is treated as a special day. Government bodies hold meetings to look honestly at the progress we have made and the challenges we still face. Community groups organize discussions, and women’s organizations share learnings from the past decade, and recommit to the principles that made it possible. It is a day that reminds us of how far we have come —and how much work remains to ensure safety and dignity for all women.
Our region is often spoken about only in terms of war or crisis. But on this day, we highlight a different side of our story in north and east Syria: a model of gender equality that has become a defining principle of our society. As Syria as a whole enters a new era, we must make sure that the successes we have achieved are protected, as we continue to progress.