The Lausanne Lacin Kurdish Women’s Assembly held a panel discussion titled “The Middle Eastern Renaissance and the Kurdish Women’s Revolution”.

Ramazan Baytar was the moderator at the panel discussion held in the Lausanne Kurdish Society Center, and Switzerland Socialist Party National Parliament MP Rebecca Ruiz, Lausanne Renens Municipality Labor Party Councillor Celine Misiego, Lausanne University Sociologist Lena Ajdacic, PYD Europe Representative Zozan Derik, Northern Syria Democratic Federation Heyva Sor a Kurdistan Co-chair Jamila Hami attended as panelists.

 

DERIK: THE ROJAVA REVOLUTION IS A WOMEN’S REVOLUTION

PYD (Democratic Union Party) Europe Representative Zozan Derik spoke first and gave a presentation on the situation of women before and after the revolution in Rojava. Derik pointed out that women had been living in a patriarchal feudal system before the Rojava Revolution, and added that the women of Rojava became a hope for all women of the world after the revolution.

“Women have played great roles in all areas of the revolution and created great gains,” said Derik and stressed that the Rojava Revolution is a women’s revolution.

“THOSE WHO THINK ANOTHER WORLD IS POSSIBLE WERE WITH US”

Derik said they knocked on every door in Europe as the attacks against Rojava and Afrin in particular intensified: “But unfortunately we were abandoned by states and systems. The world fell silent as our people were massacred. But those with consciousness, the peoples, they stood with us. There were those who joined the revolution and were martyred, the memory of these people will always live on in Rojava. The Rojava revolution does not belong to Kurds alone, it belongs to all who say another world is possible and it belongs to the women of the world.”

HAMI: WE MEND OUR WOUNDS WITH SUPPORT FROM OUR PEOPLE

Kurdish Red Crescent Heyva Sor a Kurdistan Co-chair Jamila Hami spoke after Derik and gave a presentation on the founding and efforts of the Heyva Sor a Kurdistanê Rojava. Hami said they have worked under harsh conditions of war: “The Heyva Sor a Kurdistanê Rojava has become a hope for Rojava and the peoples of the region. Through the hardest processes, we were the only institution that offered a helping hand. The world missed or ignored the victims here, but we mended our peoples’ wounds with support from the people, and we continue to do so.”

Hami added: “As the Heyva Sor we never discriminated when providing aid. Today we still help families of ISIS gangs in camps. Because we offer our support based on need. But international organizations and states have turned a blind eye to Rojava, as they manage to deliver aid everywhere else on earth.”

RUIZ: PROBLEMS WILL BE OVERCOME THROUGH SOLIDARITY

Switzerland Socialist Party National Parliament MP Rebecca Ruiz spoke after Hami and stressed the importance of the Kurdish women’s struggle for women of the world. Ruiz said they are in solidarity with Kurdish women and pointed out that women face injustice throughout the world. Ruiz spoke about discrimination women face in Switzerland as well and said, “Women of the world can overcome the problems they have through the solidarity they create.”

MISIEGO: PKK HAS CREATED A FREE IDENTITY FOR WOMEN

Renens Municipality Labor Party Councillor Celine Misiego spoke afterwards and said the practice Kurdish women put forth in Rojava has been an example for the women of the world. Misiego said, “The PKK has created a free identity for women in a rough area as the Middle East,” and added that the struggle of Kurdish women has encouraged the women of the world.

Misiego stressed that there must be a fight against patriarchy in every area. “Women of the world should come together in solidarity and fight in the light of the struggle created by Kurdish women.”

AJDACIC: WE SHOULD EMBRACE ROJAVA FOR HUMANITY’S FUTURE

Lausanne University Sociologist Lena Ajdacic spoke last in the panel discussion and started with congratulating Kurdish women’s struggle. Ajdacic said the system being built in Rojava is important for the future of the peoples of the world: “The system being built in Rojava under the lead of women is more progressive than any other in the world. Looking at the democratic aspect, and women’s presence in this system, one can see no other that places such importance on women.”

“WE MUST CREATE NETWORKS OF SOLIDARITY”

Ajdacic stressed that the Rojava Revolution should be embraced and defended for the future of the peoples and women of the world: “Switzerland and other countries are in cahoots with the Turkish state, who wants to smother the Rojava Revolution, due to commercial interests. Against this, we must create great networks of solidarity for Rojava.”

The panel discussion concluded with a Q&A section.