AMED – Speaking at the “Kurdish Women Parliamentarians Conference,” Democratic Unity Initiative Co-spokesperson Gulcan Kacmaz Sayyigit said: “Naitonal unity belongs to the Kurdish people, to Kurdish women. It will definitely be achieved.”
The “1st Kurdish Women Parliamentarians Conference,” organized by the Free Women’s Movement (Tevgera Jinên Azad-TJA) and set to last two days, began at the Çand Amed Congress Center in Amed (Diyarbakır). Under the slogan “Let’s Democratize Politics, Build a Democratic Society,” many Kurdish women parliamentarians from Kurdistan, the Middle East, and Europe participated in the conference.
The conference opened with a moment of silence, followed by an opening speech from Democratic Unity Initiative Co-Chair Gulcan Kacmaz Sayyigit.
THE CONFERENCE ECHOED WITH ‘JIN, JIYAN, AZADÎ’
Highlighting the historic nature of the conference, Gulcan Kacmaz Sayyigit said: “Due to border restrictions and the state preventing some of our friends from entering, they couldn’t join us. We send our greetings to them. We also send greetings to Leyla Güven, Semra Güzel, Pexşan Ezîzî, and all other comrades continuing their resistance in prison.”
Pointing to the difficult conditions faced by Kurds, she stated, “Kurdish women and the Kurdish people have lived under hardship. Nation-states have shown three paths; first, they divided the Kurdish people into four parts; second, they attempted to annihilate and assimilate the Kurds; and third, they prevented Kurds from coming together and establishing unity. But today, we Kurdish deputies will work for our unity. We must stand by the declarations and decisions that will come out of here. If we do, we will achieve unity. The Third World War is developing. Despite hardships and difficulties, the philosophy of ‘jin, jiyan, azadî’ (woman, life, freedom) shows the third way for Kurdistan and the Middle East. Kurdish women are raising their voices worldwide with this philosophy. I believe our comrades will share their experiences here and good things will come out of it. Under these conditions, strong work continues in the four parts of Kurdistan and the diaspora. Women say, ‘We exist in politics.’ Kurdish women’s resistance continues and will continue.”
UNITY WILL DEFINITELY BE ACHIEVED
Referring to Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Öcalan’s “Call for Peace and Democratic Society” on February 27, Gulcan Kacmaz Sayyigit said: “When Mr Öcalan spoke about the ‘Call for Peace and Democratic Society,’ it resonated widely around the world. We women must strengthen our efforts to establish a democratic society. Our responsibility is great, but so are our belief and confidence. We must stand by the decisions that will emerge from this conference. Let’s break the male-state mentality and its policies. Unity belongs to the Kurdish people, to Kurdish women. It will definitely be achieved.”
Following the opening speech, a video presentation about the Kurdish women’s struggle was shown.