Women are marking International Women's Day amid a conflict environment deepened by the Third World War. Critical developments are unfolding from the Middle East to Asia and Africa. Women are fighting without limits against war policies that restrict people's lives, and their protests are crossing borders. 

 

Rojava is at the forefront of places challenging the patriarchal system that fuels war and organising the struggle as a whole. Rojava, where a new system is being built based on the philosophy of "Jin, jiyan, azadî (Woman, life, freedom)", was once again targeted in January and February 2026 by military attacks from HTS, ISIS and Turkey-backed paramilitary groups, in an attempt to eliminate its gains.  

 

However, while the attacks clashed with the resistance of women in the region, reactions arose from women's organisations, feminists and activists around the world. Women organised to defend the system, carried out actions, and launched international campaigns.  

 

One of these campaigns is Women Defend Rojava, launched in 2019 by Kongra Star, which continues its work to this day. We spoke with Maja Bremer from Women Defend Rojava about the importance of women's gains in Rojava for women worldwide and about the campaign. 

 

A WAR AGAINST WOMEN

 

Maja Bremer, who lives in Kassel, Germany, describes herself as a feminist. Admitting that she initially knew very little about the women's revolution in Rojava, Maja Bremer said: "Over time, I understood more and more and experienced through joint action that what is being built in Rojava must be defended with all our strength, also because it teaches us here in Europe that a different life is possible." 

 

Maja Bremer said: "We are in a war against women – we see this in Rojava, where women have once again been massacred by IS fighters, in Iran, where women are fighting against the mullah regime and facing severe repression as a result, in the Epstein files, which reveal the cruelty and systematic nature of the patriarchal, exploitative system, in Colombia, where women are fighting on the front lines against imperial extra-activism and for their country, in the house next door, from which I can hear a women screaming. Against this war, which affects us differently in different places, but is directed against all of us as women, we must take to the streets loudly and powerfully on 8 March – and show that we do not accept this war against us and that we have the strength and the will to build a free life."

 

THE IMPACT OF THE CAMPAIGN

 

Maja Bremer stated that the Women Defend Rojava campaign continues to be an important tool for building bridges with Rojava, noting that thanks to the campaign, they were able to learn more about the importance and approaches of the women's revolution and understand the necessity of autonomous organisation. Maja Bremer noted that the struggle and organisation against the massacre of women in Europe has been greatly influenced by the Rojava and Ni Una Menos (Not One Less) feminist movement, which emerged in response to the massacre of women in Argentina and Abya Yala. "Local, regional and European networks against feminicide have been established in recent years, there are places of resistance in many locations, and local demonstrations and commemorations are organised when a case of feminicide occurs," she said. 

 

‘ROJAVA SHOULD BE ON THE AGENDA EVERYWHERE’

 

Maja Bremer, noting that the spirit of 8 March is to fight for a free life everywhere in the world, said, “In Rojava, the women's revolution and thus the establishment of a free life continue to be under threat – that is why we should take up this issue everywhere.” 

 

Recalling that the Women Defend Rojava campaign, launched by Kongra Star after the attacks on Girê Spî in 2019, has continued to this day, Maja Bremer said that interest in the campaign has grown again in recent weeks and that support has increased. Noting that they will continue their work on 8 March, Maja Bremer said, "We should continue to capitalise on this attention and give interested people and organisations the opportunity to learn more about the women's revolution. At the same time, we recognise that the agreement does not eliminate the danger in Rojava – we are still facing the same enemy and must therefore continue to raise awareness of the issue."

 

‘ROJAVA HAS BECOME A SOURCE OF HOPE FOR WOMEN AROUND THE WORLD’

 

Maja Bremer continued: “The determination, courage and strength with which the women in Rojava are fighting has inspired women around the world in recent years and given them hope in a world full of wars and attacks on women. The aim of the attacks by HTS was to completely destroy Rojava and its self-government, to deprive it of its very basis of existence and to commit genocide against the Kurds – it has become clear that this is a war in which everything is at stake and that we must therefore do everything we can throughout the world to stop this war."

 

MA / Hivda Çelebi