HDP Co-Chair Figen Yüksekdağ has sent a letter via her lawyers to mark 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.

The letter by Figen Yüksekdağ is as follows:

“We, despite everything, continue to say, freedom, peace and democracy -no matter what. On 25 November [the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women] in particular, the stance of women who put up a daily struggle against violence, persecution and discrimination will play a vital role. Women will begin to illuminate this darkness. I salute the united struggle that has developed in recent days against the proposed bill for an amnesty to sexual abuse [of children].

The moment and the future will be determined by those who, against all types of violence, take up women’s resistance and solidarity in all its forms... If it is a crime to believe in a peaceful and equal life for women and for all of humanity against those who worship the violence of the Male-State, against those who consecrate this violence, rape and abuse, then we will continue, together, to commit that “crime”...

The aim of violence is to spread fear, [and then] to force surrender. The most powerful response to this violence can be provided by fearless women who refuse to surrender. For women imprisoned within the walls of violence, poverty, precarity, inequality and contempt, it is high time to become an inspiration dressed in courage, defending what is good.

No government of cruelty or violence has managed to extinguish the women’s flame of life. And it is now, once again, women who carry the torch of life that will illuminate our peoples.

Everything may seem very difficult. Animosity against women and life may seem under attack from all four corners. But who said that ours was an easy task? Our task is to achieve the difficult... And I believe that we will emerge victorious! With women’s solidarity and resistance, everywhere, under whatever circumstances, we will scream in the face of those who feed off death, oppression and hatred: Women, life, freedom! They will see, once again, that they cannot take our political will hostage and that women will not betray their love of freedom... With hope, with faith, with love...”