Rûken Dêrik & Sosun Xanê/JINHA

GIRKÊ LEGÊ – In the Rojava city of Girkê Legê, women asayish (peacekeeping) forces deal not just with basic security, but with the struggle for gender equality.

Since Rojava (the western part of Kurdistan) gained autonomy several years ago, women have played a leading role in all aspects of life. One of these is the asayish (peacekeeping) forces. Women peacekeepers in the city of Girkê Legê, located in Rojava's easternmost canton of Cizîrê, say that their daily work is as much focused on gender and social problems as on everyday peacekeeping.

Reşa Sofî, like all force members, undergoes training in women's history and social gender in order to better serve women in the community. Reşa says the majority of complaints about violence against women come from housewives. As soon as a complaint is received, the force begins an investigation into the man in question and a process of one-on-one communication and support with the woman survivor.

Reşa's colleague Medya Ahmed says men have not always supported the women peacekeepers. "Men didn't believe that women could secure their own safety or that of the people," she said. "But with the increase in the [Daesh] attacks, it became more evident that women were playing a leading role and we saw that [the men] were wrong."

She says that because of the dedicated struggle of women peacekeepers, the people in the city now have great respect for peacekeepers like her. The ultimate goal is a socialized approach to security.

"Our goal is for life in the city to take place based on a social understanding of security," said Medya.

(zd/mg/cm)