MÊRDÎN - Speaking about the work of the “Women and Law Commission for Peace Building,” women emphasized, “We stress the urgent need for a constitution that allows women and all identities to exist.”

 

Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan's February 27 call for “Peace and a Democratic Society” brought with it discussions of a new constitution in the context of the republic's second century. In this context, women declared the “Women and Law Commission for Peace Building” on August 24, led by Tevgera Jinên Azad (TJA), for the construction of peace and the democratic solution to the Kurdish question.

 

The commission held its first meeting in Mêrdîn under the slogan “There can be no solution without law, no law without women,” and the women participating in the meeting shared their assessments with JINNEWS.

 

‘We want our rights back’

 

Aslıhan Sezer, a member of the Mêrdîn branch of the Education Union (Eğitim Sen), stated that women and children are most affected by war and emphasized the need for women-centered planning.

 

Drawing attention to the rights women had previously gained, Aslıhan Sezer said, "The Istanbul Convention, Law No. 6284, these rights need to be reapplied and implemented. These laws protected us, but more serious laws need to be established. Femicides, harassment, rape... These must be dealt with under very strict rules. We women want to feel safe now. No woman is safe. At least give us back the rights we have won. We want our revoked rights back. We will continue to fight for our rights." 

 

‘The more of us there are, the stronger our steps will be’

 

Aslıhan Sezer, who said that women need to come together and fight, emphasized that this is not just a task for the commission. Aslıhan Sezer said, "We want NGOs, associations, political parties, and different female politicians to be involved, not to hold back. This is not a problem for one political party or one side; it is politically independent. The liberation of women is an issue that concerns us all. Therefore, we expect representatives from other political parties and more female employees to get involved. We are fighting, but if we are more numerous, we will take stronger and more solid steps. I call on female representatives and women's branches: Let's do whatever it takes to demand our acquired rights."

 

‘The current constitution does not cover differences’

 

Beginning his speech by stating that the 1982 Constitution was a coup constitution, Jiyan Abdülsametoğlu, a lawyer and member of the Mêrdîn Branch of the Lawyers for Freedom Association (ÖHD), noted that this constitution was created by a monolithic, militaristic regime. Jiyan Abdülsametoğlu said, "The current constitution does not have a comprehensive structure in terms of differences, religions, and languages. Not only Turks but also Kurds, Arabs, and different peoples live together in Turkey. The constitution is not inclusive enough for these peoples to exist, and therefore it needs to be changed. 

 

Of the 40 years of struggle, perhaps the last ten years were the darkest period. There is a process developing with the call of Mr. Abdullah Öcalan. Following the declaration made in February, weapons were burned. This initiated the construction of a new peace process. Today's meeting featured a cross-party women's collective effort. Discussions were held on ‘how women can be present in this process, what the existing problems are, and how a constitution that includes women can be created’. 

 

What could be the solutions to the massacres, murders, exploitation, and economic hardships women have experienced throughout history in the construction of a democratic society? These issues were addressed, and different institutions presented their views."

 

‘A peace process without women is unthinkable’

 

Jiyan Abdülsametoğlu recalled that the principle of participation, one of the four fundamental principles outlined in UN Security Council Resolution 1325, to which Turkey is also a signatory, aims to increase women’s participation in UN peacekeeping operations. Emphasizing that a peace process without women's involvement is unthinkable, Jiyan Abdülsametoğlu noted that Turkey has yet to prepare an action plan on the matter.