POLITICAL SOLIDARITY

The unique political project in NE Syria was established within the structure of Autonomous Administration based on the values of direct democracy, ecological awareness, women’s freedom, and religious and ethnic freedom. We work to increase awareness and understanding of this alternative system through bilateral visits, delegations, educational programs, and public awareness campaigns, where we can create links between political movements and activists.

 

HUMANITARIAN SUPPORT

Millions of people in NE Syria live in difficult living conditions and are exposed to many kinds of attacks, sieges, and isolation with political intentions, as the war in Syria continues to affect the security, stability, and safety of people and makes them unable to access many forms of international aid. International solidarity was crucial in enabling the region to stand, continue resistance, and face difficulties. We can create links between NGOs, humanitarian agencies, and human rights defenders.

 

EDUCATION

The new education system in NE Syria prioritizes women’s rights, multiculturalism, collective learning and community education, as well as the establishment of a new curriculum and alternative educational system from kindergartens to universities. Hundreds of community academies have been established to educate and train all segments of society intellectually and professionally. We can create links between schools, universities, teachers, academics and researchers and undertake student exchange projects.

 

WOMEN’S ISSUES

Women play the forefront in the Revolution of Rojava/NE Syria, leading a wide range of reforms, including guaranteed representation for woman in all areas of life at the political, cultural, economic, media, and other levels. Laws have also been enacted that would eliminate the phenomenon of polygamy, the marriage of minors, honor killings, preventing women from inheritance, and other archaic traditions that are unfair to women. We can create links between women’s movements, women’s organizations, and women’s and children’s rights defenders, including Kongra Star which is the most common women’s movement in NE Syria.

 

CULTURE AND ART

Culture and art in the region have been restricted and suppressed for decades, as part of a policy of denying the existence of indigenous peoples and civilisations. The outbreak of the Rojava Revolution represented a cultural mental renaissance and the revival of languages and cultures that had been banned and suppressed under the central regime, new forms of cultural expression have also emerged in NE Syria, in addition to encouraging all groups and entities to express themselves within the framework of a culturally diverse society. We can create links between filmmakers, musicians, artists, intellectuals, writers and cultural and artistic groups.

 

JUSTICE

Under previous oppressive regimes, people in the region suffered harsh forms of punitive justice. Now new forms of social justice based on social reconciliation are being tried, through “reconciliation committees,” dialogue foundations, rehabilitation programs, and amnestry for prisoners. NE Syria are also struggling to find a solution for tens of thousands of ISIS-linked detainees in the region, including thousands of foreign ISIS fighters. We can create links between conciliation committees, lawyers, human rights defenders and justice initiatives, including those currently working to bring ISIS members to justice.

 

ECONOMY

The economy is being restructured in NE Syria from an economic system that serves the central authority to an economic system that serves the people, in addition to supporting small projects, empowering women in the economy, and combating monopoly. The basic principle is the establishment of cooperatives and diversified economic projects, the encouragement of local agriculture, and the continuous struggle in the transition towards achieving a communal economy. We can create links between cooperatives, community economy projects, labor and farmer unions, and financing initiatives.

 

HEALTH

People in NE Syria are being cared for through a mixture of public and private health initiatives, including the Kurdish Red Crescent, and other NGOs. The region attaches great importance to alternative traditional forms of medicine and training the community on ways to prevent diseases, but it is struggling to deal with a major humanitarian crisis that forces it to use its limited resources to their maximum limits. We can create links between NGOs, doctors, other unions, and health professionals.

 

MUNICIPALITIES

All regions and municipalities elected in NE Syria have their own unique culture and characteristics. Many of them have already entered into partnerships and “sister municipalities/sister cities” agreements with their counterparts abroad. We can create links, understandings and joint projects between municipalities, cities and towns.

 

RELIGIOUS AND ETHNIC AFFAIRS

North and East Syria are home to diverse religious and ethnic groups and minorities, including Muslims, Yazidis, Syriacs, Assyrians, Armenians, Chechens, Turkmens, Circassians, along with Kurds and Arabs. A new culture of secularism, multiculturalism and ethnicity is emerging, tolerance, and “Democratic Islam” are being promoted in the region as an antidote to ISIS’s reign of terror. We can create links between leaders of religious communities, ethnic minorities, religious bodies, diaspora groups and religious rights and freedom activists.

 

SPORTS

Sports are considered one of the most important areas that bring together different societies, based on friendship, care, and building a sound and balanced structure. All individuals of all age groups participate, with various national, religious, and other backgrounds. There are many sports activities and fitness games practiced in NE Syria, where young women play an essential and leading role in many sporting events. We can create links between sports unions, teams, and sports clubs to raise the spirit of participation and build friendships among a vital youth group.

 

LABOR UNIONS

Labor unions are considered one of the most important sectors and institutions of civil society. Their importance and role lie in representing a wide segment of society, characterized by advanced education, social and political culture, and good economic standing.

In North and East Syria, there are around 20 professional and labor unions with a membership exceeding 300,000. Amid the “Rojava Revolution,” unions have gained complete independence from state apparatuses and oppression. Their role has expanded beyond defending the interests of the represented segments to include actively participating in economic, social, and political development plans for the community.

In recent years, some of these unions have successfully established connections with their counterparts abroad and implemented projects for exchanging support and expertise. We can establish and strengthen links between professional and labor unions in North and East Syria and their counterparts abroad, serving common societal causes.

 

OUR PARTNERS

The Civil Diplomacy Center in North and East Syria currently works in partnership with dozens of networks and civil movements all over the world, and is open to working according to new partnerships that do not conflict with its visions. It is worth noting that CDC-NES is a member of global platforms for building alternative textiles, and also works through a civil diplomatic platform that includes dozens of institutions, associations, organizations, movements, professional unions and federations. The members of the platform are:

  • Doctors’ Union
  • Engineers’ Union
  • Dentists’ Union
  • Pharmacists’ Union
  • Health Professions Union
  • Workers’ Union
  • Industrial Professions Union
  • Drivers’ Union
  • Merchants’ Union
  • Chambers of Commerce Union
  • Chambers of Industry Union
  • Lawyers’ Union
  • Artists’ Union
  • Intellectuals’ Union
  • Teachers’ Union
  • Farmers and Livestock Union
  • Photography Association
  • Rojava Relief Organization
  • Human Rights Organization
  • Yezidian House
  • Intellectuals Union of Western Kurdistan
  • Municipal Councils
  • Rojava University
  • Kobani University
  • El-Sahrq University
  • Kongra Star
  • Mezopotamya Culture and Art Movement
  • Golden Crescent Movement
  • Kurdish Red Crescent
  • Democratic Islam Conference
  • Mezopotamya Religions and Beliefs Forum
  • Social Economy Committee
  • Ecology Academy
  • Sports Union
  • Green Tresses Association
  • Free Media Union
  • Social Afrin Association
  • Serikaniyah Displaced Committee
  • Stêrk Association for Children’s Rights
  • Foundation of Free Woman in Syria- WJAS
  • NUDEM Organization for Disabled People’s