The fourth conference of the Union of Women’s Media kicked off in the city of Qamishlo in North and East Syria, after a four-year postponement due to political and security challenges. The event brought together more than 150 delegates from across the region.
The conference aims to evaluate the experience of women-focused media, review the internal regulations of the Union, and develop a strategic plan to keep pace with media and political developments in the region.
After a four-year delay, the fourth conference of the Union of Women’s Media officially convened today, Saturday, November 8, at a time when women’s media faces numerous challenges. The conference serves as an important opportunity for reflection and future planning regarding the media role of women in the region.
The event witnessed broad and diverse participation from female journalists and activists, with more than 150 delegates representing a wide spectrum of women’s media institutions, civil centers, independent journalists, and women’s rights advocates. This wide representation reflects the significant growth the Union has achieved since its establishment. Today, it includes more than 500 women journalists, underscoring its expanding role in supporting women’s issues and strengthening their presence in the media landscape within a diverse and pluralistic environment.
The conference program includes keynote speeches by Arin Swed, spokesperson for the Union of Women’s Media, and Ilham Ahmed, Co-Chair of the External Relations Department in the Autonomous Administration and Kongra Star. The agenda also features discussions on the main objectives of the conference and presentation of the strategic plan to be debated and implemented, including an assessment of women’s media performance over the past four years and setting new priorities to align with current political and media developments in the region.
The fourth conference carries particular significance as it comes after a four-year postponement caused by regional security and political conditions. This period was marked by major challenges that affected the Union’s organizational capacity. As such, the conference represents a turning point for reassessment and restructuring priorities since the third conference held in 2020, which announced the Union’s foundation as a unifying framework for women’s media institutions in North and East Syria. Over the past years, the region has undergone key political and security shifts impacting media work, making this conference an essential platform to evaluate achievements and develop mechanisms for ensuring the sustainability and advancement of women-led media in the future.
Media Center of the Women’s Protection Units (YPJ)
08.11.2025
