Speaking at the panel titled ‘Women and Peace Discussions’ organized as part of Peoples’ Democratic Congress*, women’s coordination member Aynur Cengiz stated that women want a lasting peace and be the agents of change.
Peoples’ Democratic Congress (HDK) organised a panel on “Women and Peace Discussions” at its headquarters. Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) Mersin MP and member of the Parliamentary Human Rights Investigation Commission Fatma Kurtulan and feminist activist Özgül Saki were the speakers at the panel moderated by HDK Women’s Coordination member Aynur Cengiz.
‘War brings destruction’
Aynur Cengiz stated that they came together to talk about peace, which society needs the most. Stating that women are among the most affected people by wars, Cengiz said that it is important for women to talk about peace. Cengiz said, “War brings nothing but migration, violence, torture and rape. It causes irreparable damage to nature and ecological life. Women, who are witnesses of war, suffer economic and social destruction as a whole. When we look at the statistics, the effects on women and children continue for years. Therefore, women want a lasting peace and be the agents of change.
‘Women are resilient in their struggle for peace’
Feminist activist Özgül Saki said that as women advocating for peace, they had carried out many activities in the past. Citing the Peace Watch as an example, Saki stated that Kurdish and Turkish women have made efforts to build peace and said: “When it comes to the issue of why women want peace, it is because war itself strengthens patriarchy and militarism. What Azerbaijani soldiers did to an Armenian woman soldier, what was done in Iran and how women are affected by the war in our own country are clearly evident. The conditions of war destroy the existence of women in their own space. For this reason, women are more resilient in the struggle for peace.”
‘The faith in peace is has been damaged’
Speaking afterwards, HDP Mersin MP Fatma Kurtulan drew attention to the fact that the belief in peace in Turkish society has been damaged. Pointing to the Kurdish problem in the country, Kurtulan said, “We are struggling with a mentality that dates back to the Republic. After 1922, there was a denial of Kurds. Conflicts and wars have always been written in the history of the country until today, but there were those who paid the price in wars. Today, they try to destroying the society’s faith in peace. The current dominant mentality is trying to build its existence on our absence.”
*Peoples’ Democratic Congress is a union of numerous left-wing political movements, organisations and parties in Turkey that aims to fundamentally recreate Turkish politics and represent oppressed, exploited individuals who face ethnic, religious or gender discrimination.