Women in Şiyê began the process of organizing the town into communes, according to the principle of democratic autonomy and local self-governance, in December of last year. Thousands of women took part in grassroots meetings to organize communes across the town and its surrounding villages over the last four months. Women held a final meeting to announce the end of the commune organizing process in Şiyê and the beginning of the democratic autonomous administration of the region.

"Women have experienced great pain throughout history," said Resmiye Sido, of the women's organization Yekîtiya Star, which took a leadership role in the organizing process. "Only with communes can women organize a free future."

The commune system operates as a way for citizens to govern their own lives. Each of the 23 communes in the town and its surrounding area will have committees on social, educational, defense, economic, and young women's affairs.

(fk/cm)