The Gevaş (Westan) Municipality of Van, run by the People’s Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party), made history in women’s rights by opening the Tamara Women’s Life Center. Hundreds of women attended the opening, a colorful scene full of excitement.
The opening ceremony was attended by Van Metropolitan Municipality Co-Mayor Neslihan Şedal, district co-mayors, City Council Co-Chair Sevgi Özdinç, DEM Party MPs Gülcan Kaçmaz Sayyiğit and Gülderen Varlı, members of Star Women’s Association, Peace Mothers Council, Free Women’s Movement (TJA) activists. Women who attended the opening in traditional attire created.
Before the opening, women marched through the city center accompanied by music and arrived at the venue, chanting “Jin, Jiyan, Azadî” (Woman, Life, Freedom). After the march, the women danced in a circle to convey a message of solidarity and freedom.
‘We are rebuilding life’
Gevaş Co-Mayor Kübra Akti greeted all participants in her opening speech, saying, “This is not just a place, it is a space for women to fight. With this center, we are rebuilding life. May this opening be a celebration for all women. Jin, jiyan, azadî!”
Sevgi Özdinç, Co-Chair of the City Council, said, “At a time when women are subjected to so much pressure and violence, these steps taken for women are extremely valuable. I would like to thank all my friends who have put in this effort.”
Speaking on behalf of the Peace Mothers Council, Kevê Işık said, “Seeing so many women together makes me very happy. I hope that our future will be filled with peace and tranquility. This center is an important step forward for women.”
‘No woman is alone’
DEM Party Van Deputy Gülderen Varlı emphasized that women’s centers are not just physical spaces, but also spaces for liberation, saying: “We set out to transform life together with women. No woman is alone. We are fighting together against male-state violence. We say it again from here: Women will rebuild life here.”
‘We will continue to enhance our struggle’
DEM Party Provincial Co-Chair Gülşen Kurt described the opening of the Tamara Women’s Life Center as a sacred step, saying, “After Mr. Abdullah Öcalan’s call on February 27, we entered a historic process. Women are the subjects of this process. We will continue to enhance our struggle against women’s poverty, migration, and male violence. Today’s opening is also significant in terms of the socialization of peace.”
‘Our cities will be governed by women’
Van Metropolitan Municipality Co-Mayor Neslihan Şedal said, “Today, we are excited to take the first step for women. For the first time, Gevaş is being governed by the DEM Party from a women’s perspective. Our cities will be governed by women with a democratic, ecological, and feminist approach. Every center we open will be a space of freedom for women. I congratulate everyone who contributed to this first step we are taking here today.”
Following the speeches, the Tamara Women’s Life Center was opened enthusiastically with cheers and slogans.
Source: ANF News
