For a decade, the autonomous region of Rojava in north-east Syria has been a bastion of gender equality and democratic experimentation. However, as Syrian government forces advance, the future of this unique experiment in women's liberation and decentralised governance looks increasingly bleak.
The Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (DAANES) has been committed to equal rights, with every institution relying on power-sharing between men and women. Women in Kurdish, Arab and Assyrian dress have rallied under the slogan “Jin! Jiyan! Azadi!” (Woman! Life! Freedom!). But now, those same women speak of despair, betrayal by the West, and the threat of slaughter.
The Syrian government, led by Ahmed al-Sharaa—a former al-Qaida figure—is seeking to bring the whole country under its control. Massacres of minorities elsewhere in Syria have heightened fears among Kurds. As government forces advance, the territory controlled by the autonomous administration has shrunk dramatically, and key Kurdish areas are under threat.
Despite the dire situation, women in Rojava remain determined to defend their achievements. The region's armies, including the Women's Protection Units (YPJ), fought to destroy Islamic State. A patchy ceasefire is holding, and negotiations may yet preserve some rights, but the future looks dark.
Rojava's model has inspired anarchists and socialists worldwide with its bottom-up, decentralised political system. While gaps existed between rhetoric and reality—including reports of human rights abuses and Kurdish dominance—its commitment to gender equality was transformative. Women drew inspiration from their own traditions, rereading feminist writers and building a true counterweight to patriarchal practices.
The fall of Rojava would not only be a tragedy for its people but also a loss for the global fight against authoritarianism and for gender equality. As one woman told me, “This will be a century of women’s freedom.” That hope now hangs in the balance.
