ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - An Australian delegation led by Senator David Shoebridge visited the Kurdish region of northeast Syria (Rojava), where they expressed their appreciation for the role of women in decision-making bodies, according to Rojava’s foreign relations office on Sunday.
“During the meeting, they discussed the overall situation in Syria, particularly in the North and East Syria regions, in addition to the experience of the Democratic Autonomous Administration [in North and East Syria, or DAANES] as an exemplary model, and the pioneering role played by women within the administrative institutions, both civil and military,” read a statement from the office.
Shoebridge expressed his appreciation for Rojava administration’s governance experience, especially regarding the involvement of women in decision-making positions and noted that this experience "deserves support and replication as a unique democratic model in the region,” according to the statement.
Shoebridge has not released any statements regarding his visit to the Kurdish enclave.
The Kurdish administration has granted women rights that are rare in the region, including a co-chair system, which mandates that every senior position be jointly held by a man and a woman. Rojava is also home to Syria’s only all-women village of Jin War, officially established in 2018.
The Australian delegation’s visit comes as Syria is in a transitional phase following the fall of dictator Bashar al-Assad in December.
The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), the de facto army of Rojava, in March signed an agreement with the interim government in Damascus to integrate Rojava and its forces into the new state civilian and military institutions. However, recent developments in the country — including mass killings in Druze and Alawite-majority areas — have caused hesitation within the Kurdish enclave and stalled ongoing talks. The Kurds fear that a potential handover of weapons to an army dominated by radical groups could pose a deadly threat to the minority group.
Shoebridge said it is important to implement the March agreement and “ensure the rights of all Syrian components, foremost among them women's rights,” the statement by Rojava’s foreign relations office cited him as saying.