From January 25 to February 1, the Women Defend Rojava and RiseUp4Rojava campaigns declared an action week in solidarity with the revolution in North and East Syria. International solidarity actions were especially significant on January 26 (Kobane Action Day), January 31 (Women Defend Rojava Action Day), and February 1 (Final Action Day).
The campaigns Women Defend Rojava and RiseUp4Rojava draw a clear conclusion from the Global Week of Action from January 25th to February 1st: The international protest against the attacks on North and East Syria was broad, visible, and politically effective, the initiators say. At the same time, the campaigns warn against reducing the pressure on the self-proclaimed Syrian Transitional Government and its allies now.
The week of action was triggered by the waves of attacks on the self-administration in North and East Syria, as well as the siege on the city of Kobanê. The military escalation led to a severe humanitarian emergency in that city, which in 2014 became the symbol of victory over ISIS.
“Kobanê stands worldwide for the resistance against ISIS and for the struggle for women’s freedom,” explains Linda Weber of Women Defend Rojava. “That this city is being attacked again must not be accepted internationally.”
The joint call of the two campaigns was signed by 242 organizations and 113 individuals from 45 countries – including well-known voices such as Greta Thunberg and Raúl Zibechi. Overall, tens of thousands of people worldwide took part in the actions.
“The protests have shown how strong international solidarity with Rojava is,” says Nadine Amir, press spokesperson of RiseUp4Rojava. “In Europe as well as in South America, a movement has emerged that clearly positions itself against this war and its profiteers.”
According to the assessment of the campaigns, this international pressure – together with the resistance of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the local population – contributed to the fact that the Transitional Government had to agree to talks about a ceasefire. Mazlum Abdi of the SDF General Command emphasizes: “International solidarity has enormously strengthened us morally and drawn worldwide attention to Rojava.”
However, Women Defend Rojava and RiseUp4Rojava urgently warn against interpreting this development as an all-clear. Ceasefires have repeatedly been broken in the past, and concrete steps toward de-escalation have so far failed to materialize. The alliances call for maintaining international pressure and continuing to publicly address the attacks on North and East Syria.
Women Defend Rojava
RiseUp4Rojava
February 1, 2026
Contact:
Women Defend Rojava: womendefendrojava@protonmail.com
RiseUp4Rojava: riseup4rojava@riseup.net
Look at the full list of signatures here
