Istanbul — The International “Peace and Democratic Society” Conference, which began this morning, Saturday, December 6, reviewed a range of diverse international experiences.

The activities of the International “Peace and Democratic Society” Conference continue through speeches and interventions by participants. The Co-Chair of the Equality and Peoples’ Democracy Party (DEM), Tülay Hatimoğulları, affirmed that the world today is experiencing political, social, and economic repercussions resulting from the conflicts that followed the First and Second World Wars. She stated:

“We stand on the brink of a Third World War, which, if it occurs, would make what we witnessed in the previous two wars seem minor. Therefore, we bear the responsibility of preventing it and sincerely striving to embrace peace with full commitment.”

She further stressed that:

“At a time when armament is increasing worldwide, and most states possess and have developed nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons, humanity—indeed all living beings—has become exposed to great danger, while the world and the planet we live on face a serious existential threat.”

 

Building a Democratic Syria

She emphasized the existence of a broad struggle to build a democratic nation that transcends the limits of the traditional nation-state, noting that this horizon is embodied in the experience of Rojava. She said:

“The attempts by the Damascus government to eliminate the efforts of the Autonomous Administration of the Kurdish people and the other peoples of Syria are unacceptable.”

She strongly condemned the violations committed by jihadists of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham against Druze, Alawites, and Christians—including genocide, massacres, oppression, and torture—describing them as unacceptable. She emphasized the necessity for the Autonomous Administration to play a fundamental role in building a democratic Syria, stressing that the path before it should be paved, not obstructed.

She explained that this experience, with its secular and democratic character and its focus on women’s liberation, is not merely a project for building a democratic Syria, but rather a model urgently needed in the Middle East—one based on equality, the freedom of peoples and women, and shared life among different components and beliefs.

 

“Mr. Abdullah Öcalan’s Call for Peace and a Democratic Society Is Historical and of Great Value”

Tülay Hatimoğulları stated:

“We see Mr. Abdullah Öcalan’s call for peace and a democratic society as historical and highly valuable, especially at a time when wars and conflicts are escalating in our region and the world, and exploitation is increasing. This call is an extremely important step not only for Turkey. The Kurdish issue is not merely an internal matter of Turkey, but one that concerns our entire region. We all realize that a hundred years of conventional understandings, ideas, and repression will not end easily. We know that building a democratic society under these global and regional developments and widespread chaos is extremely painful and difficult. We are committed to struggling on this difficult path, and through this process, by confronting these challenges, we will build peace on these lands together.”

She continued:

“For peace to be built on firm values, it is essential to take more courageous, pioneering, and realistic steps. Likewise, for peace to be enduring, it is necessary for everyone to understand the importance of Mr. Öcalan’s stance, which proposes a policy where guns fall silent and ideas speak. This approach, which takes into account the democratization of Turkey alongside the resolution of the Kurdish issue, represents a great opportunity for this country. This historic moment and opportunity must be seized by everyone. We can express this in the same way for the state and the ruling party, the opposition, and all social dynamics. These are the reference points for building a pluralistic democratic nation, and we must move forward from there.”

 

Women at the Heart of Peace

On the pivotal role of women in building peace, she affirmed that women are the most fundamental pillar of peace, stating that there can be no peace table without women, because they are not mere observers but active actors, contributors, and protectors of this process. Therefore, she said, there can be no talk of lasting peace without changing the patriarchal, male-dominated political structure. The struggle for peace—opposition to war, conflict, and militarization—is also opposition to the patriarchal mindset.

She addressed a call to all women in Turkey and around the world, stressing:

“As women, we will become more effective in making peace. We affirm that we must all strengthen the will that seeks peace and prioritize a humane and dignified life for the people. We must show greater solidarity and struggle harder for the success of the peace process and the building of a democratic society. We must also continue to develop our internationalist struggle against the unjust imperialist capitalist system. With these feelings and thoughts, I believe that our discussions today will develop our thinking and awareness, contribute to addressing this process in a more systematic way, and most importantly, collectively reveal a shared international will for struggle.