Delîla Bagok/JINHA

DÊRIK – The Dêrik Women’s House, among the first projects of the revolution in Rojava, is celebrating five years of serving women in the city.

When the Rojava revolution began in the city of Dêrik, one of the first projects of the revolution was the Dêrik Women’s House. As the Dêrik Women’s House celebrates five years, dozens of Women’s Houses based on this model have spread to cities across the three Rojava cantons, providing social services, education, healthcare, economic and legal support to the women of Rojava, and working to resolve women’s problems in their communities.

“First off, when the Women’s House was first founded, it was providing for all of women’s needs—from ideological trainings to language, health and social trainings,” said Sebah Hesen of the Diplomatic Committee at the Women’s House. “The House of Women took on a substantial responsibility until other [revolutionary] institutions were formed. This was the kind of consciousness with which the Women’s House began its work, and it’s made it to today through great labor.”

Sebah noted that the Women’s House works to solve the entire range of problems that women bring to them.

“The goal of the Women’s House is to advance free thought,” said Sebah. “It also aims to defend women’s rights and to find a solution to problems in society. This is the framework we’re working with.”

Sebah said that women in Dêrik have come to see the Women’s House as their first stop for solving problems; approximately 8 women apply to the Women’s House for support every day.

Evîn Elî serves on the Women’s House council.

“My task is to document every problem that comes to the Women’s House and to prepare an archive of these problems,” said Evîn. Evîn and other Women’s House workers sit down with every applicant to record their name and where they came from, and then to listen to their fundamental problems. Then, they attend a discussion, along with the Reconciliation Committee. Evîn and others archive the process, then send any still-unsolved problems to the court.

“We love our work, and we want women to be conscious of their rights,” said Feyroz Mihemed, saying she and the other nine Women’s House members solved issues through collective effort.

(rc/cm)