Bağrıyanık: Women will show building of peace to all Middle East

2015-05-09 15:11:27

ISTANBUL (DİHA) - Women academics, politicians and activists gathered for a workshop to discuss how to push for women's roles in the peace process in Istanbul today.

Women activists have gathered in Istanbul for a workshop organized by Kurdish women's group Congress of Free Women (KJA) on women's role in the democratic solution of the Kurdish question. Kurdish women's group Congress of Free Women (KJA) organized the workshop on women's role in the democratic solution of the Kurdish question.

The workship at Dolapdere Campus of Bilgi University was joined by HDP (Peoples' Democratic Party) MPs Sebahat Tuncel, Pervin Buldan, Selma Irmak, KJA member and Imrali Delegation member Ceylan Bağrıyanık, Woman Initiative For Peace (BİKG) member Nükhet Sirman and Nazan Üstündağ, Journalist Author Kezban Hatemi, Ayşe Böhürler, Ayşe Hür, Ayşegül Devecioğlu, Pınar Öğünç, Banu Güven, Mehveş Evin, artist Julide Kural, Prof. Dr. Fatmagül Berktay, Lawyer Hülya Gülbahar, Eren Keskin, CHP İstanbul MP Binnaz Toprak, Researcher Writer Zeynep Gambetti and representatives of woman associations like Socialist Feminist Collective, Capital City Woman Platform, Woman Coalition, Socialist Woman Assemblies, Filmmor, Eskişehir Woman Platform, Black Sea Woman Solidarity Union, Saturday Mothers and Hatay Woman Labour Collective.

'We'll show how to build peace through woman perspective'

In recent months, PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan pushed for the Turkish state to allow a second woman onto the delegation, Ceylan Bağrıyanık of the KJA. With the addition of Bağrıyanık, women now make up half of the four-person İmralı Delegation, a first in the resolution process.

Imrali Delegation member Ceylan Bağrıyanık said, along with other woman member of delegation, Pervin Buldan, they represented all the women from Turkey. She added, "We will altogether show to all the Middle East how to build an experience of peace through woman perspective. 

'We will enhance our voice against massacre towards Ferinaz'

Bağrıyanık commemorated Ferinaz Xosrawanî, 26, losing her life while defending herself against the rape attempt of Iranian intelligence ministry agents in Mahabad. "We will enhance our voice against massacre towards Ferinaz. We are remembering her struggle respectively. We will enhance our struggle for her attitude of freedom," she said. 

'It is difficult to fight for peace'

Imrali Delegation member said, "The AKP government has halted the democratic solution process. It has stopped the process of negotiation. But, we will continue to work and conduct struggle for peace. It is difficult to fight for peace. Women have prominent roles in the way to peace. No peace is possible without women."

(nt)