The Women’s Assembly of the Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) held the first of its “Women’s Gatherings for Peace and the Construction of a Democratic Society” in Istanbul, with plans to continue these meetings across various regions of Turkey and Kurdistan. The event, held at a hotel in Taksim, brought together members of the DEM Party Women’s Assembly, women’s organizations, feminists, and various platforms. The gathering, which focused on “Women’s Struggle in Local Democracy and Peace Politics,” saw a large turnout of women.

No solution without women

The opening speech was delivered by Halide Türkoğlu, the spokesperson for the DEM Party Women’s Assembly. Türkoğlu highlighted that the DEM Party Women’s Assembly is structured as a unique and autonomous organization in terms of building political and organizational frameworks. She noted that it is a women’s assembly that strives to turn multiple components and diverse lines of struggle into active subjects within the political sphere.

Emphasizing their current goal of establishing a democratic approach to politics in the struggle for women’s freedom and equality, while challenging male-dominated politics, Türkoğlu stated: “On February 27, following Mr. Öcalan’s ‘Call for Peace and Democratic Society,’ we, as the DEM Party Women’s Assembly, held several discussions. The central issue in these discussions was the nature of peace and democratic society. Politics itself, with its male-dominated language, fails to address democratic society and peace. Initially, we met with women’s structures within parliamentary political parties, as these are also part of the democratic political sphere. If this issue is to be resolved within Parliament, it is clear that it cannot be done without women. The socialization of peace cannot be achieved through centralized politics alone. It must also be organized on the ground, locally.”

Women’s joint struggle for peace emphasized

Halide Türkoğlu, commenting on the situation in Syria, stated: “If a democratic Syrian regime is to be established, women must be part of it. With the February 27 call, in a period where unlawful practices were enforced through judicial means and trustee policies were not limited to Kurdistan, we not only need to discuss peace but also how we, as women, will expand our struggle to build a democratic society.

The ruling authorities aim to reshape the process in their own favor. But we women have carried out a struggle for existence from a standpoint that recognizes these risks within our historical joint struggle. How can we bring women’s struggle for freedom and equality to the center of politics in constructing a democratic society? Even when peace and democratic society are discussed in general politics, the struggle for women’s freedom and equality is sidelined. As democratic society is discussed, femicides continue.

Women’s issues cannot be overshadowed; this line must be made even more visible. Issues of sexual violence, detentions, and arrests must be addressed… We must make our struggle for equality a central agenda in building a democratic society. We need the proposals of women’s organizations and feminists. On the one hand, we aim to structure this process in Parliament, and on the other hand, we want to continue these discussions locally. The DEM Party Women’s Assembly seeks to resolve this process through a multifaceted struggle. We want to create women’s solidarity, carry on these discussions with local women’s organizations and platforms, and also deliberate on how to build a democratic society with women, different faiths, and diverse identities as the main agents.”

The meeting then continued behind closed doors.