Through this movement, Kurdish women are fighting for the decolonisation of Kurdistan from occupying states, while also struggling for the decolonisation of women in Kurdish society, driven by the conviction that only through women's liberation can society be transformed and not the other way round, a belief held by many other movements.
The movement has three core pillars based on the ideology of Democratic Confederalism: ecology, democracy and women’s liberation.
Ecology is not just caring for the environment, but also to have symbiotic relationships within the movement. Paired with democracy and women’s liberation — which is all about autonomy and non-reliance on the state — the Kurdish Women’s Movement is actively challenging patriarchal and colonial formations.
Its organisation is symbolic of Kurdistan geographically as a region spread through parts of four countries: Syria, Iran, Iraq and Turkey. The movement operates with elected councils and a strong, functioning infrastructure that serves entire Kurdish communities, not just the women. It’s a self-reliant and self-organised movement without money or sponsorship from any state, government or foundation. This way, it’s able to protect its democractic radicalism, uncensored voice, and it has been able to mobilise millions of women in the region and across the world.
The movement played a leading role when the revolution began in Rojava over ten years ago — on July 19, 2012. And it continues to challenge all forms and expressions of patriarchy and misogyny, struggles against colonialist, assimilationist, genocidal and capitalist practices and policies. With this, it defends the peaceful coexistence and democratic participation and representation of different ethnic and religious communities in social, political and cultural life.
The slogan of the movement — “jin, jiyan, azadî”, or “woman, life, freedom” — is rooted in over 30 years of Kurdish women’s struggle against NATO-backed authoritarianism in Turkey and ISIS extremism in Iraq and Syria. Kurdish women in Iran have an equally powerful history of resistance to foreign intervention, repressive regimes, and religious fundamentalists.
The Kurdish women's movement sees itself as playing a role in the continuity of women's struggles throughout history through its own unique ideological and practical contribution. Its slogan “jin, jiyan, azadî” represents our struggle, our contribution, and our aspirations for a better future for all women and for society.
The Kurdish Women’s Movement knows very well that their struggles goes beyond borders — and that they are not alone in them. That’s why they have taken the step of joining the Progressive International to unite, organise and mobilise progressive forces around the world. And the movement will work with other members of the Progressive International to win liberation for all women, in Kurdistan and all around the world.
