A conference of the Women's Council of North and East Syria took place in Qamishlo on Thursday. The topic was the impact of the Turkish occupation on women. The conference was attended by representatives of various organizations and bodies in the northern Syrian autonomous region.

Presentations highlighted the political, social and legal problems of women in the areas occupied by Turkey. In her presentation, journalist Nercis Ismail pointed out the historical context of the occupation and the crimes committed in the Ottoman Empire. Already at that time, religion was misused by those in power to enforce their interests. Today's Turkey continues this tradition in Kurdistan, she said.

In the final declaration of the conference, the withdrawal of the Turkish state and the disbanding of its mercenary units was described as a prerequisite for a solution to the crisis in Syria. The declaration calls on the international community to define Turkey as an occupying power in Syria and to ensure an end to this state of affairs. The declaration stressed that those displaced from occupied territories must be returned safely and compensated, and the Turkish state must be held accountable in international courts for the crimes of its jihadist mercenary forces.

The conference also paid special attention to the civilians abducted and imprisoned in the Turkish occupation zone. The use of the water supply as a weapon of war and the attacks on infrastructure in north-eastern Syria were named as further war crimes committed by the Turkish state.

The declaration further states that the crisis in Syria can only be solved by Syrians and that all population groups must be included in the political negotiation process. Women must be involved in this debate and decision-making.