News Center- The Democratic Women's Alliance in the Middle East and North Africa (NADA) released a written statement on Sunday to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.

The International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women is an opportunity to shed light on violations in all their forms, the statement said. “We call on all women, organizations, and women's movements to strengthen alliances, consolidate relations, and exchange experiences and expertise under the umbrella of the ‘Regional and Global Democratic Women's Confederation’ project; and we call on everyone to work together and effectively, so that we raise our voices loudly and together to build a world without violence, where peace and security prevail, and where women enjoy their being according to the philosophy of the global slogan: ‘Women, Life, Freedom’.”

The statement is as follows:

“On November 25 of each year, we celebrate the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, which is an invitation for women to assess the conditions of women around the world, and an opportunity to shed light on violations in all their forms. It is a day to announce the level of violence committed against women, and an occasion for all women's liberation movements to review themselves, especially women's movements in the Middle East and North Africa, this region that is witnessing political, military and field developments intertwined with huge crises.

Women live under totalitarian, authoritarian regimes, are being suffocated with deviant religious norms and neoliberal rulings. Due to the structural crises, they suffer from domestic violence, deprivation of education, lack of sustainable development and social justice, and deprivation of their rights.

‘Women are exposed to rape, harassment and violence in all its forms’

The crises and wars that are sweeping the region are not only political or military, but are primarily economic, societal and intellectual crises, which have resulted in an escalation of violence in all its forms, and women have become victims of wars and a tool in the hands of all conflicting parties, and as a result they are exposed to rape, harassment and violence in all its forms. It is sufficient to point to the conditions of women in Sudan, Iraq, Palestine, Kurdistan, Yemen and Syria to confirm this.

The issue of women in the region (the Middle East and North Africa) is at the bottom of the list of important issues, and does not receive any attention to address it. Therefore, societies and systems alike are floundering in a quagmire of problems. This is because the solutions to all pending issues are inevitably linked to solving the issue of women's freedom, because it is the foundation of all social issues, and the key to solving them all. Therefore, without addressing the roots of the concepts of authoritarian dualities such as (authoritarianism and slavery, the dominance of the tyrannical male ego versus the objectification and commodification of women, the dominance of authoritarian masculinity and submissive femininity... and the list goes on), patriarchal authoritarianism cannot be addressed, nor can a true democracy based on actual equality between the sexes be built.

‘Women have become the primary target’

In the era of technological and scientific revolution and globalization, humanity has made significant strides in discoveries and inventions. However, women are still suffering from the deterioration of their conditions. Indeed, women have become the primary target in the midst of the current Third World War. The statistics and studies on violations against women are horrific. Influential international reports state that one woman is killed every 10 minutes throughout the year. Countries are still discussing women's right to education, while others are still struggling to include the most basic rights of women in laws. Women in general have been struggling against child marriage and the veiling of girls, in addition to the issue of food deprivation and loss of security.

Experiences of women's struggles

The International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women is also an opportunity to highlight the experiences of women's struggles. Here, as the NADA Coalition (the regional democratic women's coalition), we can only commemorate all the female fighters throughout history, and recognize the courage of those who have faced unjust regimes, and those who are still fighting for their rights and freedoms. Today's feminist struggles demonstrate the strength of women and their ability to change reality, and confirm that the greater the decadence experienced, the greater the heroism. What women are achieving today has a great impact, starting with fighting the global system built on the accumulation of capital and wars, through fighting authoritarian political religion, and reaching the fight against terrorism in all its forms, and opposing all outdated male concepts and beliefs.

Call on all women

Therefore, in the name of the NADA Coalition, we say: Let us make this day a platform to unify the discourse and goal for all women; let us be united in the demand for freedom as a red line that cannot be compromised; let us aim to achieve and strengthen democracy as a basic means of solving social issues; Let us unite the word with profound theories; let us unite the will and determination with our own women's organizations; let us free our necks from the swords of masculinity; and let our security and self-defense be in our own hands. This is because having awareness, organization, and self-defense are strategic weapons in the hands of women in their historical struggle in the shadow of the ongoing Third World War, and without them, we cannot guarantee any achievements or gains, just as we cannot overcome the obstacles that stand in our way.

We also call on all women, organizations, and women's movements to strengthen alliances, consolidate relations, and exchange experiences and expertise under the umbrella of the ‘Regional and Global Democratic Women's Confederation’ project; and we call on everyone to work together and effectively, so that we raise our voices loudly and together to build a world without violence, where peace and security prevail, and where women enjoy their being according to the philosophy of the global slogan: ‘Women, Life, Freedom.’

Let us continue the struggle, and let us achieve the change we seek for!

Immortality to the martyrs of the word of truth!

Jin, Jiyan, Azadî!”