"Enhance the resistance for life, the struggle for equal rights and against crisis, massacres and violence" - under this motto, countless women followed the call of the local Women's Platform on 8 March in the province of Dersim on Sunday to protest against the destruction policy in Turkey that affects all areas of life.

The rally took place at the central Seyid Riza Square. Many women wore the colourful dresses typical of Dersim, holding banners and posters with inscriptions such as "From the factories to the barricades: we women will bring the victory", "Long live women's solidarity" and "Jin, Jiyan, Azadî" (Women, Life, Freedom). After joint dances, accompanied by loud singing and Erbane sounds, women's rights activist Çağla Yolaşan gave a speech.

Yolaşan first pointed to the increase in violence against women and said that gender inequality, unemployment, poverty, war, environmental destruction and displacement across the country had reached unprecedented levels. "On the other hand, it is the oppressed and poor, the working people, the youth and women who oppose this system and say: It cannot go on like this. We are encouraged by the struggles of many women worldwide to stop the denial of women's right to life under the most difficult conditions. It is this courage that brings us women together in the fight against sexual violence, sexism, racism, the culture of rape and the denial of our rights.”

Afterwards the activist of the Dersim women's platform reminded of the fate of Gülistan Doku. The 21-year-old student has disappeared without trace since January 5. Just one day before she disappeared, her ex-boyfriend - a policeman's son - tried to drag her into his car by force. Since then, the security authorities have been obstructing the investigation and circumstances of the young woman's disappearance. Women's organisations fear a violent crime covered up by the security apparatus.