Women have always played a leading role in the struggle to nurture peace on these lands. In particular, the call for “Peace and a Democratic Society” made by Abdullah Öcalan on 27 February received support from many circles around the world, with women among its strongest advocates. Standing against the male-dominated mindset, women voiced their demands for the construction of a democratic society and for the peace process in every sphere.
Idil Uğurlu, an activist with Free Women’s Movement (TJA), spoke to ANF and said: “Women, both in Turkey and in other countries, are among the most active groups resisting war and working to build peace. In Turkey, not only in the past six months but perhaps for a century, women have played a significant role in building peace. Women have fought in every arena to end periods of conflict and have consistently called for peace.
In recent months, Mr. Öcalan sent a message to both women and young people. Following this message, the process gained further momentum. Women have been the ones paying the highest price in the ongoing conflict. That is why those who pay the greatest price will be the ones who voice and demand peace the most. In this sense, we can say that women are the main actors in the period ahead.”
Emphasis on organising for an equal life
Uğurlu noted that women’s living spaces have been shrinking due to the challenges created by the male-dominated mindset and said: “During times of economic hardship, women are the first to lose their jobs. In wars, the female body is described as a territory to be occupied, and there is a direct targeting of women’s bodies.
In particular, there has been a withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention in Turkey. This convention was one that women had fought hard to have accepted. Every day, we see that a woman friend of ours is murdered. Women and children are subjected to rape and then killed. The government is reaching the point of deciding how many children a woman should have. We all know the case of Narin Güran. A whole village fell silent. Now, it is not only women but also small children who suffer negative consequences from this.’’
She added: ‘‘Male violence knows no limits of time or place. In the face of all these challenges, women must organise. It is also necessary to expand the women’s liberationist paradigm. We must take a stance that prioritises women and recognises their problems. If we act with a philosophy that puts women’s equality first and apply this in all areas of life, the male-dominated mindset will naturally be pushed back.”
Democratic society is an alternative for us
Idil Uğurlu stated that a democratic society offers an alternative to the growing patriarchal mindset. She also said, “The government that runs the state is a government made up of men. There are very few women. That is why, in this process, it is men who speak. In the male state mentality, the speaking mind is a male mind. On the other side, most of the interlocutors are also women.
When we look at the representation in the commission established for the process, most of them are men. The DEM Party has ensured gender equality. Naturally, men will look from their own perspective and speak with a mentality that has persisted for thousands of years. On the other side, which seeks a solution, there is the female mind. In this process, women in all parties need to have a voice. Women must raise their voices; the more active participation they ensure, the more the process will conclude in their favor.”
Source: ANF News
