As violence against women and femicide have been increasing day by day in Turkey, women have made preparation for International Women’s Day. HDP Women’s Council has carried out works focusing on women’s issues. “A joint struggle is a must,” said Bahar Karakaş, member of HDP Women’s Council.

Amed- Women’s organizations in Turkey have announced their program for International Women’s Day. Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) Women’s Council has also announced their program. Women will take to the streets in many cities of Turkey. HDP Women’s Council member Bahar Karakaş Uluğ said that they will come together with women every day and that they will celebrate International Women’s Day by focusing on crises in the country.

Bahar Karakaş Uluğ underlined the importance of March 8 for the Kurdish women's movement and said, “Before, we celebrate this day to demand our personal rights and identity. But in recent years, we rise up when women face right violation everywhere around the world. We can talk about an international women’s movement not only in Turkey. When we won many municipalities in the local elections, international women’s studies have been organized. When feminist movements in Turkey realized that the studies were carried out internationally, they began to work with us.”

“We will celebrate March 8 by focusing on crises”

Bahar Karakaş Uluğ pointed out they have a word to say on every issue in Turkey, “As HDP Women’s Council, we have announced that we will celebrate this year’s International Women’s Day with enthusiasm, as we do every year. Unfortunately, there is an oppressive regime in all fields in Turkey. We have no space to breathe. Sometimes, the state leaves us without breath, sometimes men, and sometimes the ecological damage. We know that violence against women and femicide have been increasing during the Covid-19 pandemic outbreak. I see how women are killed in homes. We will celebrate International Women’s Day across Turkey by dealing with crises and producing solutions for them. We have been working on this for months and we will keep working on this after March 8.”

“We are aware of our responsibilities”

Mentioning that they deal with problems of all women living in Turkey as their problems, Bahar Karakaş Uluğ said, “The problems in the region (Kurdish region), in the Black Sea, and everywhere are our responsibility. We (HDP) are currently the real opposition party in Turkey. Both the state and the government are aware of this. As HDP, we are aware of the burden on us.”

“We should get together as women”

Bahar Karakaş Uluğ called on all women to raise their voices on March 8, and she said, “Currently, the judiciary in the country stands by men. There is a secret agreement between men and the state. As women, we should make a clear agreement against the secret agreement. A joint struggle is a must. We issue a press statement and organize protests for all women. We will take to the streets to celebrate International Women’s Day, as we do every year.”