Peacebuilding in a Conflict Setting: Peace and Reconciliation Committees in De Facto Rojava Autonomy in Syria

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Notes

1 Interview with Dr Wendy Pearlman, 3 May 2016: http://www.kurdishquestion.com/article/3158-fear-experiences-of-syrian-refugees-in-jordan-turkey-and-lebanon-an-interview-with-dr-wendy-pearlman, accessed 10 December 2016.

2 Interview with Çinar Salih, TEV-DEM (Tevgera Civaka Demokratîk — Democratic Society Movement) representative, 16 June 2015.

3 Kongreya Star is an umbrella organisation that has an important number of women organisations (i.e. women’s houses, all-women communes, all-women workplaces, all-women cooperatives, etc.) in all districts and provinces of the RDAA as well as in the cities of Damascus and Aleppo. Kongreya Star was established before declaration of the RDAA; however, the Syrian regime forbade its activities and arrested many of its members because they participate in political activities for the rights of women and Kurdish people.

4 Mala Jinê is a social affiliate of Kongreya Star. Women who encounter domestic violence or any socio-economic problem usually visit Mala Jinê first and ask for protection or help.

5 Interview with Emîna Umer, Head of Cezîre Canton Women’s Council, 20 August 2014.

6 The courts are ‘official bodies’ of the Council of Justice; however, their system is different from that of courts that exist in Syria and other states in the world. To work at the court of the RDAA one does not need to be a lawyer or have studied law before. People who want to serve at the courts need to study at Mesopotamia Academy of Social Law and Justice. The graduates of this academy are employed as lawyers, judges and prosecutors. Interview with Ebdulhemîd Bekîr, Head of Cezîre Canton Council of Justice, 21 August 2014.

7 Mesopotamia Social Law and Justice Academy members in Qamişlo noted in the interview (18 January 2015) that the aim is to put the PRCs at the centre of conflict resolution. Similarly, in a conference at Boğaziçi University (Istanbul, Turkey) on 16 June 2015, Çinar Salih, a TEV-DEM (Democratic Society Movement) representative said that ‘TEV-DEM aims to expand the PRC system in Rojava and let people resolve the conflicts on their own. TEV-DEM may even demolish the courts because if people are used to solving their conflicts, they will not need the courts anymore’.

8 A similar process is observed in the Sulh section of Sharia. The disputing parties who agree with the Sulh do not have to go through the trial process in the Sharia court. This can save time and cost for the parties and indirectly facilitate resolution of cases in the Sharia court. The Sulh in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia is one of the functioning examples (Wahed 2015). Turkey recently started a similar system called reconciliation courts (Uzlaşma Mahmekemeleri) that aim to settle various types of economic, social, and individual disputes out of court.

9 Asayîşa Jinê is a female branch of the public security forces and authorised to investigate crimes committed against women. All these three organisations work in cooperation to decrease the problems that women face and provide security and a social space for women.

10 Hevpeymana Civakî is the Social Contract, or the constitution, of the RDAA. It defines the principles of the political regime and the authorities of the social, political, and economic organisations and institutions. To read the full text of the Social Contract, visit https://peaceinkurdistancampaign.files.wordpress.com/2014/03/english-version_sc_revised-060314.pdf, accessed 10 December 2016.

11 Interview with Tariqê Brahîmê Êzidî, Member of Serêkaniyê Peace and Reconciliation Committee, 24 August 2014.

12 Skype interview with the PRC members in Kobanî Canton, 13 December 2016.

13 Interview with Mesopotamia Social Law and Justice Academy members, 18 January 2015.