As International Women’s Day approaches, the women of Iraq’s Makhmour (Mexmûr) refugee camp are celebrating resilience in the face of many challenges as well as their achievements in creating a self-sustaining, self-governing enclave.
The size of a small town and home to some 13,000 Kurdish refugees who had fled and were fleeing state violence in Turkey in the 1990s, the camp was established in 1998 under the auspices of the United Nations in the harsh deserts of Iraq’s Mosul province, some 60km southwest of Erbil (Hewlêr), the capital of Iraq’s Kurdistan Region.
Makhmour camp has since become a testament to the enduring spirit of the Kurdish community, particularly the central role of women in shaping a society based on the principles of liberation, ecology and democracy. Despite numerous threats, including attacks by the Islamic State (ISIS) in 2014, subsequent Turkish airstrikes and tight military blockades by the Iraqi army, the residents of Makhmour have not only survived but thrived, forging a community where women lead the way towards freedom and equality.
Women working in a tailoring workshop stressed the importance of having created of economic opportunities for themselves, challenging and changing long-standing patriarchal norms.
Speaking to Mezopotamya Agency (MA), Gulîzar Şirîşeyî, co-chair of a local council within the camp, reflected on the transformation within Kurdish society, attributing significant advances in women’s rights and participation to the Kurdish struggle for freedom. She shared insights into the patriarchal challenges women have overcome in the camp, highlighting their journey to become key decision-makers and leaders in their community.
“When I first entered the administration, I would wait for the men. I would wait for what the man would say. I felt that the men knew everything and ran everything,” said Şirîşeyî. “As time went on, I started doing almost 75 per cent of the work. Male friends are with us too, we do not ignore their efforts, but now we see that women can run everything too. Now when women make a decision, even if it is not suitable for men, they cannot refuse. My call to all women in the world; they should never remain under the domination of men and the state. They should not forget that they are the subjects of life. They can freely express their own choices and will. They should defend their achievements”.
According to the women in the camp, education plays a crucial role in breaking down gender roles and promoting gender equality. Camp resident Hêlîn Kara discussed how targeted education efforts focused on women’s liberation are instrumental in changing societal norms and attitudes towards women.
“Education on women’s freedom changes the gender stereotypes learned in society. You can see a serious change and transformation in society, even if there is no fundamental change yet. We can see it in our lives,” she told MA.
The women of Makhmour salute International Women’s Day with resistance, noting that only through organised struggle will women’s gains be protected.
