By Shwan Dizayee: Dunya, age 15, was a girl, a daughter, a child of Kurdistan; but unfortunately, at this young, vulnerable age she was also a wife. As I stare at her child photo and marriage day collage, I see no difference, just a natural pose opposed by an unnatural one which is accompanied by…
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Category Archives: Women’s rights
South Kurdistan journalist and a women’s activist to address rights meeting at Swedish parliament
KT News: Independent journalist Kamal Chomani and Kurdish women’s activist Halal Rafe are to address a meeting at the Swedish parliament next week to discuss freedom of expression and women’s rights in the Kurdistan Region. Officials from the Swedish foreign ministry and the foreign relations departments of five political parties are expected to attend the session. Bookmark…
Women and the Kurdish Movement in Turkey: ‘There will be no turning back’
By Eva Bernard: First published by Women’s Voices Now In Turkish public opinion and media, and according to certain studies, the Kurdish regions of Turkey are often deemed the most patriarchal and traditional. Yet, since the late 1970s, the Kurdish guerrilla movement and Kurdish political parties have been the most openly progressive proponents of women’s…
Skin Bleaching: the maintenance of ‘White privilege’ or a cosmetic choice?
By Fenk Mamand: For centuries, women throughout Asia and Africa have been brought up to believe that white is beautiful. The association of fairness with beauty has led to many women bleaching their skin in an ever-expanding industry. With rumoured celebrities such as Beyonce and Rihanna believed to be regular users of the product, the…
Daughter of BDP co-mayor killed in the defence of Rojava
KT News: Helin Demirkol, the 25 year old daughter of Haşim Demirkol, BDP (Peace and Democracy Party) co-chair of Amed’s Çermik Municipality, was killed on Monday in clashes between YPG (People’s Protection Units) forces and ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) terrorists in Rojava/West Kurdistan. ANF/Firat News reports that Helin Demirkol died in fighting in the Girê…
‘We just keep silent’: Gender-based violence amongst Kurd refugees in Iraqi Kurdistan
Report by UN Women: Foreward Women and girl refugees all over the world suffer from all kinds of sexual and gender based violence. It is therefore no surprise that Syrian refugees everywhere should become vulnerable to the predators who abuse the weak. Much discussion has already occurred about the situation of Syrian women in Jordan…
Leyla Qasim: symbol of freedom, and Independence
By Leyla Pekoz Caliskan: Leyla Qasım was born in 1952 into a very patriotic family. She was the third of five children born to a farmer, Dalaho Qasim, and his wife Kanî. Leyla was born in Xaneqîn but relocated to Irbil when she was four years old. She and her brothers – Sebih, Selam, Sefa and…
Women in the People’s Protection Units defend Rojava: a photo story
By Rodi.M.Amin: November 2013, Rojava / Syria: Our first photo shows a People’s Protection Unit (YPG) fighter on the outskirts of the town of Tirbespiye, taking up her position while defending her town from attacks by the jihadists of the al-Nusra Front and ISIS: Bookmark on Delicious Recommend on Facebook Share on Linkedin Tweet about it Subscribe to…
Ladies First Mr President
By Osamah Golpy: I wrote this poem for Afghan women in the first place. However, in February 2014 two Kurdish women, two sisters, were found dead in Saidsadiq, Sulaimanyah in the Kurdistan Region. They were reportedly murdered at the hands of their relatives. That is why, besides Mr. Obama, ‘Mr. President’ also refers to the…
Women’s rights in Iraqi Kurdistan: a few words
By Ramyar Hassani: A week left till March 8th and International Women’s Day. But in Iraqi Kurdistan three women have been killed, one by 15 bullets while in bed and the other two were found dead in a pond and, of course – according to my knowledge and the nature of media outlets in that…
Rojava will greet March 8th with Women’s Laws
By Rojava Report: (ANF/NERGİS BOTAN – QAMİŞLO) Women have played a major role in every phase of the Rojava Revolution, and with the proclamation of autonomy women are receiving legal guarantees of their rights. Following the Cizîre Canton’s proclamation of autonomy last month, the Women’s Legislative Committee was formed in order to draw up laws…
‘The women of Rojava have broken their chains’
By Rojava Report: In a report carried by ANF, Jina Zekioğlu interviews members of a 6-women committee from the Cizîre Canton in Rojava which is currently on a visit to Diyarbakir. The committee is meeting with various local organizations in an attempt to develop joint-projects and to improve cooperation between women’s organizations in Rojava and…
I dreamed
By Dr Hawar Moradi: This story is dedicated to the young girl who was raped recently in Erbil. I dreamed, that I am a butterfly, sitting on a white rose. It was a normal beautiful day, as any other day. In the heart of the blue sky, the sunrays one by one were breaking through the…
Zhyan Group: Start dealing with crimes against women in Iraqi-Kurdistan
By Falah Moradkhin (Wadi): Zhyan Group, a women right’s network of more than thirty different NGOs and activists in Iraqi-Kurdistan, is organizing a protest in Suleymania in front of the Kurdish parliament. Starting on Friday, January 24th this event will continue for 48 hours, day and night, protesting against the way the Kurdish Government has…
‘Male violence is killing more Kurdish women than Saddam’s genocide’
KT News: Women activists have spoken out against the high level of sexual harassment and murder of women in the south of Kurdistan. 32 women’s group have signed a petition stating: “In the last 23 years the KRG has become a hell for women. Thousands of women have been killed or under cultural pressure have…
