Kongreya Star

Kongreya Star (Kurdish for Star Congress), founded in 2005 under the name of Yekîtiya Star (Kurdish for Star Union of Women), is a confederation of women’s organizations in Rojava, Syria. They have been instrumental in the significant advances made in gender relations in the region. Its work is based on the claim that "without the liberation of women, a truly free society is impossible."[1] One of its founding members is Îlham Ehmed, former Co-Chair of the Syrian Democratic Council[2]

Flag of Kongreya Star
Flag of Yekîtiya Star

The organization focuses on organizing women's communes which focus on economic opportunity and development, consciousness-raising and self-defense for women.[3] Working throughout Rojava and Syria, Kongreya Star aims to be an example for the entire Middle East and to realize the women’s liberation revolution across the entire region.[1] Ideologically they are within the wider framework of the Democratic Confederalism modernization movement.

Academies

Yekîtiya Star has established several academies, of which Yekîtiya Star Academy was founded in 2012 and provides instruction through the framework of Jineolojî (Kurdish for "women's science"), a term coined by Abdullah Ocalan. The Academy offers an introduction to Jineolojî, an exploration of the economy from a feminist lens in which women are seen as central actors in the economy, civics as practiced in Rojava as well as other subjects.[4]

The student body ranges significantly, from college educated young adults to the illiterate elderly. The pedagogy of the school emphasizes the personal authority of each student and encourages a more interactive relationship between teacher and student, similar to the teaching philosophies of John Dewey and Paulo Freire.

Each program culminates in a final session called a "platform." A platform is an opportunity for a student to announce how they will participate in the Rojava Revolution.

Communes

There are dozens of communes throughout Rojava, including in the towns of Til Temir,[5] Efrîn,[6] Axcelê, Baflûrê, and Cindirês.[7]

Publications

Kongreya Star also publishes Asoya Jinê, a women's magazine covering "a variety of topics including political and social affairs, interviews with women, and a space devoted to women guerrillas who have fallen in the struggle. There is also Kuncika Malame: a forum for readers and followers to share feelings, poems, memories and stories, as well as a space for mothers to discuss handicrafts."[8][9]

Other Activities
Girke Lege´s women centre offers services to survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and other forms of harm.

Other projects and activities are organized by the organization, including the opening of a park in honor of Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan's birthday,[10] campaigns and demonstrations against honor killings [11] and the creation of safe houses for victims of domestic violence.

References
  1. "The Women Leading a Social Revolution in Syria's Rojava". Newsweek. 6 October 2016. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
  2. https://dckurd.org/2017/02/14/interview-with-ilham-ahmad-co-chair-of-syria-democratic-council-msd/
  3. "Rojava: the women who wove a revolution - 1". JINHA. Archived from the original on 28 October 2017. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
  4. Biehl, Janet. "Revolutionary Education - Two Academies in Rojava". Ecology or Catastrophe. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
  5. "Yekîtiya Star establishes all-women commune in Til Temir". Hawar News Agency. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
  6. "Women establish commune center in Efrîn". Hawar News Agency. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
  7. "3 commune centers open in Cindêris". Archived from the original on 2017-10-18. Retrieved 2015-07-22.
  8. "A new women's magazine launched in Rojava: Asoya Jinê". JINHA. Archived from the original on 22 July 2015. Retrieved 20 July 2015.
  9. "Rojava: the women who wove a revolution". JINHA. Archived from the original on 18 October 2017. Retrieved 20 July 2015.
  10. "Women open a park for in memory of Öcalan's birthday". Hawar News Agency. Archived from the original on 18 October 2017. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
  11. "Yekîtiya Star staged demo against honor crimes". Kurdish Info. Archived from the original on 18 October 2017. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
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