Stand with Rojava: Urgent Action Needed
A call for Canada to protect Kurdish civilians and uphold its commitments to human rights and regional stability.
What’s happening in Rojava (North and East Syria)
North and East Syria, commonly referred to as Rojava, is facing a rapidly deteriorating humanitarian and security situation. The region has experienced renewed violence, instability, and attacks that place civilians—particularly Kurdish and minority ethnic and religious communities, women, journalists, and human rights defenders—at serious risk.
Rojava has played a critical role in regional stability for over a decade. Local Kurdish-led forces were key partners in the international fight against ISIS, sacrificing thousands of lives to defeat the group and continuing to guard detention facilities holding ISIS fighters and affiliates. Ongoing instability now threatens these facilities, raising serious concerns about civilian safety, regional security, and the potential resurgence of extremist violence.
At the same time, reports from the ground indicate widespread displacement, civilian harm, and the erosion of hard-won democratic and pluralistic institutions. Women’s rights, local self-governance, and minority protections—hallmarks of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria—are increasingly under threat.
Humanitarian access remains limited, leaving families without adequate shelter, medical care, food, and protection. Kurdish civil society organizations and humanitarian groups have repeatedly warned that without immediate international attention and assistance, the situation will continue to worsen.
Why this matters to Canada
Canada has committed itself to defending human rights, international law, and civilian protection. The situation in Rojava directly engages these responsibilities.
Kurdish-led forces in North and East Syria were key partners in the international coalition against ISIS, including Canada. Continued instability in the region—particularly around ISIS detention facilities—poses serious risks to regional and global security.
Rojava has also been recognized for advancing women’s leadership, pluralism, and local democratic governance in an otherwise volatile context. The erosion of these institutions threatens progress that aligns closely with Canadian foreign policy values.
Canada is home to a growing Kurdish diaspora with deep personal ties to the region. For many Canadians, this crisis is not distant or theoretical—it affects families, communities, and loved ones.
Canada’s voice matters. Diplomatic engagement, humanitarian support, and clear advocacy can help protect civilians and prevent further instability.
What we are asking Members of Parliament to do
We are calling on Members of Parliament across Canada to take immediate and concrete action in response to the situation in Rojava (North and East Syria).
Specifically, we urge MPs to:
Publicly condemn attacks against civilians and violations of international humanitarian law in Rojava
Advocate for the protection of civilians, journalists, and civil society actors in North and East Syria
Support accountability and de-escalation efforts through diplomatic channels, including independent monitoring and investigation of alleged abuses
Ensure continued humanitarian assistance reaches displaced Kurdish communities, particularly during the winter
Raise the issue in Parliament, including requesting briefings on Canada’s position and response to the crisis
Canada has a responsibility to uphold the values it champions internationally. Silence and inaction enable further violence and instability.
By contacting your Member of Parliament, you are helping ensure that Kurdish lives, rights, and democratic institutions are not ignored.
This letter campaign complements the joint statement submitted by Kurdish Community Centres of Canada and reinforces the same calls for protection, accountability, and humanitarian support.
Take Action: Email Your Member of Parliament
Your voice matters. Members of Parliament pay close attention to messages from their constituents, and a high volume of emails on a single issue signals urgency.
We are asking you to contact your local MP and urge them to take action to protect Kurdish civilians and support humanitarian access in Rojava.
How to send your email (5 minutes):
Find your MP using your postal code
Open the letter template below and copy the text
Personalize at least one sentence with why this issue matters to you
Send the email using your MP’s listed contact email or form
Including your full name and postal code helps ensure your message is counted as a constituent concern.
Even one email makes a difference. Hundreds make it impossible to ignore.
Support Humanitarian Aid for Rojava
Alongside political advocacy, urgent humanitarian support is critically needed. Families in North and East Syria are facing displacement, shortages of medical supplies, food insecurity, and lack of adequate shelter—especially during the winter months.
We encourage those who are able to, please donate to trusted, Kurdish-led, and women-led humanitarian organizations that are providing direct support on the ground:
Kurdistan Red Crescent (Heyva Sor a Kurdistanê)
Provides emergency medical aid, food assistance, shelter, and support for displaced families across Kurdish regions, including North and East Syria.
Lotus Flower Foundation
Supports women, children, and survivors of violence through medical, psychological, and social services, with a strong focus on conflict-affected Kurdish communities.
Every contribution—no matter the size—helps provide life-saving assistance and dignity to families affected by violence and displacement.
If you are unable to donate, sharing these links and encouraging others to contribute is also a powerful form of support.
This campaign is independent and community-led. Donations go directly to the organizations listed above, and no funds are collected or handled by this website.
Share and Stand in Solidarity
Raising awareness is a critical part of protecting lives. When stories from Rojava are shared, it becomes harder for governments and media to ignore what is happening.
You can help by:
Sharing this page with your friends, family, and community networks
Posting about Rojava on social media and directing people to take action
Encouraging others to contact their MPs and support humanitarian efforts
Talking about what is happening in classrooms, workplaces, and community spaces
If you are part of a student group, organization, or community centre, we encourage you to share this campaign widely and help amplify Kurdish voices during this critical moment.
Solidarity is not passive. It is built through collective action, persistence, and refusing to look away.
Berxwedan Jîyane (Resistance is Life)
The people of Rojava have shown extraordinary resilience in the face of war, displacement, and political abandonment. Kurdish communities across the world continue to stand with them—through advocacy, humanitarian support, and collective resistance to erasure.
From the diaspora, our responsibility is clear: to use the safety and platforms we have to protect those who do not have the same freedoms.
This is not only about Rojava.
It is about dignity, justice, and the right of all people to live without fear.
Thank you for standing in solidarity.