Beirut- JÎN Women Association, the Newroz Cultural Association and the Noun Initiative for Abdullah Öcalan's Freedom held an international women’s conference on the experiences of women’s movements with the motto  “In the footsteps of Jin, Jiyan, Azadi” in Beirut from August 18 to August 19. The women participating in the conference supported the campaign launched by the Kurdistan Women’s Communities (Komalên Jinên Kurdistan-KJK) from August 3 to August 15 to be in solidarity with the women of Afghanistan and Shengal (Sinjar).

In an interview with NuJINHA, Bushra Ali, head of the JÎN Women Association talked about the aims of the conference.

 Noting that the conference was held to support the campaign of the KJK, Bushra Ali said, “In July, the KJK announced the campaign to support the women of Afghanistan and Shengal. August 3 marks the anniversary of the genocide against the Yazidi community while August 15 is the anniversary of the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan. As JÎN Women Association and Newroz Cultural Association, we decided to support the campaign. We held the conference to support the women of Afghanistan and Shengal.”

‘The conference became the voice of women’s resistance’

Pointing out that the conference became the voice of the women of Afghanistan and Shengal, Bushra Ali said, “We all know that when Kurdish women were subjected to genocidal attacks in Rojava, Yazidi women were being subjected to genocidal attacks in Shengal. Afghan women have been now subjected to genocidal attacks. Afghan women did not remain silent against these genocidal attacks on Kurdish women and stood by them. We held the conference to show that we stand by the women of Afghanistan and Shengal.”

‘We can actualize our dream of freedom’

At the conference, women from Arab, Iranian, Afghan, Kurdish and African women discussed the problems faced by them. “At the conference, we talked about the philosophy of leader Abdullah Öcalan and the experiences of Kurdish women were emphasized. We indicated that the philosophy of leader Apo (Abdullah Öcalan) can be implemented by all women, especially by Afghan women. As women, we can actualize our dream of freedom by uniting. The aim of the conference was to build the unity of women.”

‘Women gave a clear answer’

Noting that the JÎN Women Association is a partner of the Noun Initiative for Abdullah Öcalan's Freedom, which was formed in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), Bushra Ali said, “The initiative has been supported by more than 200 organizations and individuals from 22 countries. After the KJK launched its campaign, we, as the Noun initiative, announced that we stood by the women of Afghanistan and Shengal. We held the conference to support the women of Afghanistan and Shengal. At the conference, women gave a clear answer; freedom.”

At the end of her speech, Bushra Ali said, “As women in Rojava, Bakur, Bashur, Shengal, Afghanistan and Rojhelat, we will support and actualize the philosophy of leader Apo.”