News Center- The Yazidi Free Women's Movement (Kurdish: Tevgera Azadiya Jinên Êzîdî-TAJÊ) has issued a statement to announce its program for the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, November 25.

‘We held an important congress’

The statement defined the genocide against the Yazidi community on August 2, 2014 as the most brutal violence against women. “As TAJÊ, we held our second congress with the motto, ‘We will protect ourselves against genocidal attacks, we will protect the freedom of women and society’. We held our congress on November 13, which is an important day for the Yazidi women because it is the anniversary of the liberation of Shengal (Sinjar).  We held the congress before the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women to discuss the most brutal violence against Yazidi women and highlighted the importance of struggle against terrorism.”

‘The killing of Yazidi women will be held accountable’

The statement also highlighted that the genocide committed in Shengal was the most concrete form of male-state violence and said:

“August 3 is the day when a genocide was committed against Yazidi women. ISIS, which was formed by the support of states, attacked Shengal on August 3, 2014. ISIS abducted hundreds of our women and children and sold them in slave markets. Hundreds of women were raped and killed. Our women were subjected to pressure to convert into Islam. All these happened in the 21st century while the whole world just watched. The male-state violence aimed to committee a genocide against all women in the person of Yazidi women to create fear among women. The killing of Yazidi women will be held accountable. We will bring those who committed the genocide against us to account.”

Call to strengthen the ‘Jin, jiyan, azadî’ struggle

The statement also said, “Leader Öcalan defines the 21st century as the century of women’s freedom. Women are the pioneers of this century. Women should strengthen their struggle with the slogan, ‘Jin, jiyan, azadî’ against violence, rape, genocide and femicide. As Yazidi women, we were subjected to violence because of our faith and culture. Despite everything, we do not give up resisting. We will hold seminars, workshops, discussions and a march by chanting the slogan ‘jin, jiyan, azadî’ to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.”