“Now is the time to strengthen the democratic forces in the Middle East, like the Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES), and to stand with the women fighting for freedom, peace, and democracy in Syria!” declared over 650 women leaders, activists, and organisations from around 40 countries in an open letter addressed to United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres and other global leaders on Tuesday.
The letter, issued on the heels of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s fall on 8 December, demands international action to build a democratic Syria with women at the forefront of decision-making.
The signatories highlight the devastation of the Syrian civil war, which lasted more than 13 years, and the atrocities committed by the Islamic State (ISIS) and through “invasion attacks by the Turkish state in violation of international law”. They emphasise that the reconstruction of Syria must prioritise women’s involvement in shaping politics and all spheres of life in a self-determined way.
“Syria’s women are determined to work towards shaping the peace process, for a democratic society, and for truth and justice,” the letter states. It calls for the recognition of the AANES, a self-governing region established in 2012 that has become a model for women’s liberation, grassroots democracy, and ecological sustainability.
The letter underlines the pivotal role women have played in defending their communities, particularly through the Women’s Protection Units (YPJ), which, alongside the YPG and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), fought to liberate numerous cities from the Islamic State. The multi-ethnic and multi-religious coexistence fostered in North and East Syria is presented as a blueprint for rebuilding Syria.
The Syrian Women’s Council, a coalition of women from diverse ethnic, religious, and cultural backgrounds, issued a declaration on 22 December, outlining 13 goals to ensure women’s decisive participation in Syria’s political processes. The open letter supports these goals, insisting that the voices of women and all sectors of Syrian society must be heard in shaping the country’s democratic future.
Signatories also issue a strong warning against supporting jihadist groups or continuing arms sales to Turkey, which they accuse of intensifying violence and oppression in the region. “We call for an immediate halt to arms deliveries and political concessions to Turkey,” they wrote, urging strengthened diplomatic relations with AANES and other democratic forces in Syria.
The letter concludes with a call to action: “We call on the international community and all political actors to officially recognise the AANES, to directly support the civil organisations there, and to establish long-term cooperation.” It emphasises that standing with Syria’s women is key to creating a peaceful, democratic, and sustainable future for the region.
Among the signatories are parliamentarians, human rights activists, and representatives from grassroots organisations worldwide, demonstrating a broad coalition of support for women-led change in Syria. The letter is a rallying cry for global leaders to act decisively to ensure that the reconstruction of Syria is inclusive and rooted in democratic values.
