The 16th World Social Forum was held in Montreal, Canada this year.

Europe Kurdish Women’s Movement, Rojava Free Women’s Foundation, Montreal Kurdish Women’s Assembly, HDP MPs Selma Irmak and Hişyar Özsoy and NGOs attended the forum.

In seminars held in the forum for a week, topics such as the Kurdish women’s struggle, jineology, democratic confederalism, Kurdistan history, the Rojava Revolution and women’s fight against militarism were discussed. “Roza”, a film about the Kurdish fighters’ struggle during the Rojava Revolution, was also screened in the forum.

INTEREST IN ÖCALAN’S BOOKS

The stands with Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Öcalan’s books translated to English, French and Spanish was met with great interest.

Members of parliament talked about the Turkish state’s massacres in Northern Kurdistan in the Parliamentarians Forum.

A march was held from Montreal Parc Lafontain for the opening rally of the forum. Photographs of Sakine Cansız, Fidan Doğan, Leyla Şaylemez, Sêvê Demir, Pakize Nayir, Fatma Uyar and Arin Mirkan were displayed in the women’s photography exhibit.

SUPPORT FOR ÖCALAN’S FREEDOM AND AUTONOMY

The #IstandWithKurdishAutonomy campaign held by the Kurdish Women’s Movement as part of the forum activities was widely supported by the participants.

In the forum, the declaration including Öcalan’s freedom, November 1 World Kobanê Day and democratic autonomy declarations in Northern Kurdistan, Rojava and Shengal was accepted.