On March 8, women once again stand up for their rights around the world and fill the streets and squares with their colours as part of the International Women's Day. This year's March 8 also indicates that it is women who will determine the colour of the 21st century. The struggle for existence or non-existence of proletarian women has developed into a resistance that will decisively shape the century. This fact makes itself felt in all areas of life.

On March 8, in Shengal, the main settlement area of the Yazidi community in Southern Kurdistan/Northern Iraq, ANF met fighters of the Shengal Women's Units (Yekîneyên Jinên Şengalê, YJŞ).

Axîn Intikam from the YJŞ General Command first of all congratulated all the Yazidi women scattered all over the world because of persecution on the International Women's Day, which, according to the commander, means a day of unity, solidarity and emancipatory struggle for all women of the world. "It is not only a symbolic day, but one of historical resistance. Also for us Yazidi women in particular, struggle cannot be limited to one day alone. A liberation struggle cannot be reduced to one day. Resistance is a continuous process. The women, for example, who were captured by the enemies of Kurdistan, are in a constant struggle. We too are in resistance against our enemies every moment. This will continue so."

Yazidis have changed

Intikam recalled the genocide perpetrated against the Yazidi community in August 2014 by the terrorist organization ISIS: "Before the latest ferman (genocidal persecution), Abdullah Öcalan was not really known to the Yazidis. To celebrate March 8 as an international women's day of struggle was unthinkable. Today, however, it is women who command this sacred piece of earth. Their acquaintance with Öcalan and his philosophy has enabled Yazidi woman to organise themselves.”

Women must organize themselves to prevent femicide

The YJŞ commander also addresses the worldwide increase in violence against women: " Western countries claim to be the most developed but we can observe all forms of violence against women, their humiliation and oppression there. This situation cannot change as long as women remain apolitical and unorganized. In the middle of Europe, a Yazidi woman from this region has been murdered recently. This crime is a continuation of the genocide against our community. The only way to stop the femicide is for us women, and with that I mean all women in the world, to organise ourselves and stand up for our oppressed fellows.”

Getting to know March 8

YJŞ fighter Çiçek Çiya remembers being amazed when she first heard about the women's day of struggle, March 8. "We really had no idea. It was only when we studied Abdullah Öcalan's theses and his theory of women's liberation that we realized many things. Now we are at a point where we can do what March 8th expects of us."

Self-organization is a revolutionary duty

Another YJŞ fighter Hebûn Çiya says: "We, the militants of YJŞ are ready to fulfil our revolutionary duties together with our comrades in the YBŞ (Shengal Resistance Units). We will strengthen the self-organization of the women of Şengal. We will do this to prevent further genocides."