Êzidî women in Germany (SMJÊ) join international TAJÊ-campaign
The umbrella organization of Yazidi women’s councils in Germany e.V. (Sîwana Meclîsên Jinên Êzidî / SMJÊ) has published a call to join the campaign “Against Femicide – Be the voice of self-defense”.
Find the call here:
Call to Action for Şengal/Sinjar: Against Femicides – Be the Voice of Self-Defense
Under the theme “Against Femicides – Be the Voice of Self-Defense,” the Freedom Movement of Yazidi Women in Şengal/Sinjar (TAJÊ / Tevgera Azadiya Jinên Êzidî) launched an international campaign on March 8, 2024, International Women’s Day, which will run until August 3, the tenth anniversary of the genocide and femicides in Şengal/Sinjar.
TAJÊ, the Freedom Movement of Yazidi Women in Şengal/Sinjar (Northern Iraq), was established in Şengal/Sinjar in 2015 in response to the dire consequences of the genocide and femicide. What began with the formation of a women’s council rapidly evolved into a self-organized women’s movement, now encompassing numerous associations, organizations, and alliances from all facets of societal life. It includes thousands of members who stand against violence towards women and have become the voice of self-defense. Building on this foundation, they have emerged as significant and shaping actors in Şengal/Sinjar. Consequently, they now occupy pivotal positions in the committees of Şengal/Sinjar’s Autonomous Administration, thus influencing the region’s reconstruction and livelihood.
Given the ruthless wars and inhumane violence of our era, the year 2024 holds special significance for us Yazidi women. It commemorates the tenth anniversary of the genocide and femicides by the so-called ‘Islamic State’ (Daesh/IS) in Şengal/Sinjar on August 3, 2014, during which tens of thousands of individuals who refused to bow to their radical Islamist ideology were killed, abducted, and enslaved.
Despite myriad adversities, tens of thousands of people have stood against this campaign of destruction and annihilation. Yazidi men and women joined the struggle for Şengal/Sinjar’s liberation, forming their own defense units, the Şengal/Sinjar Resistance Units (YBŞ) and Women’s Units Şengal/Sinjar (YJŞ). They did not abandon their homeland but embarked on reconstruction efforts, thereby encouraging numerous displaced individuals to return and resettle in their native land.
The objective of TAJÊ’s campaign is to gather the voices, signatures, and support of women and women’s organizations globally to bolster and highlight international solidarity and networking among women.
As the umbrella organization of Yazidi women’s councils in Germany e.V., we have maintained close ties and collaborated across various levels with the women’s movement of Yazidi women in Şengal/Sinjar. We endorse their demands and initiatives and extend an invitation to you to participate in this campaign in innovative ways, be it through photos, videos, texts, songs, poems, rallies, and more.
The Umbrella Organization of Yazidi Women’s Councils in Germany e.V. was founded on February 7, 2016, in Bielefeld and is registered as a non-profit association. Our mission is to promote education, culture, youth, and research, and to support our members in preserving their cultural heritage and advancing their rights in German society. We strive to foster cultural diversity and aid the integration of Yazidi women into German society while concurrently encouraging them to preserve their Yazidi identity and culture. We advocate for gender equality and the empowerment of women and children.
We invite you all to be part of this campaign and to become a voice of self-defense. We encourage you to also motivate other women and women’s organizations to participate in this campaign.
To support and participate in the campaign; Against Gender-Based Violence – Let’s Be Voice for Self-Defense, please send your products to: E-mail address: [email protected]
Löhne, April 12th, 2024
Dachverband der Ezidischen Frauenräte e.V.
Ulenburger Buchenallee 16 32584 Löhne
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.smje.de
