International Conference on Peace and Democratic Society praises Leader Ocalan's role

The International Conference on Peace and Democratic Society was held between December 6 and 7, 2025, with the participation of politicians, academics, human rights defenders, and parliamentarians. The final statement emphasized that the process launched by Leader Abdullah Ocalan on February 27 represents a historic opportunity for a comprehensive halt to the conflict. Participants noted that the PKK’s decision to end its armed struggle and dissolve itself represents a courageous step paving the way for peace and stability.

The conference also featured an online participation by Ilham Ahmed, the Co-Chair of the External Relations Department of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria, along with representatives and speakers from 19 countries across five continents. The event highlighted the need to end the long-standing conflict in Turkey and build lasting peace through an inclusive democratic social contract, reaffirming Leader Abdullah Ocalan’s central role in stability and democratic transformation.

The statement reaffirmed the leadership role of Leader Abdullah Ocalan, considering him not only a representative of the Kurdish people but also a key actor in peace and democratic transformation in Turkey and the Middle East, particularly amid the rise of authoritarian and fascist tendencies globally.

Conclusions and Recommendations:

The conclusions and recommendations reached during the two-day conference were as follows:

1. Rejecting all forms of violence and armed struggle, and emphasizing that lasting peace can only be achieved through dialogue and negotiation. Participants stressed the need for women to play a more active role in peace negotiations in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 1325.

2. Emphasizing the urgent need for legal transformation as part of conflict-resolution efforts. In this context, Turkey needs a new democratic social contract that includes all components on the basis of equal citizenship and eliminates the drivers of violence.

3. Drawing on the experiences of South Africa, Ireland, the Basque Country, and Catalonia, and replacing rigid central concepts with approaches that enhance community participation and reduce violence. Participants called for strengthening local governance and decentralization in Turkey and enacting supportive laws.

4. To achieve the “right to hope,” participants called for allowing access to Leader Abdullah Ocalan’s intellectual works and enabling academics and intellectuals to communicate with him. They stressed the need to end the isolation on Imrali Island and transform it from a symbol of isolation into a gateway to peace. They also considered, based on European Court of Human Rights rulings, that legal arrangements guaranteeing the right to hope and Leader Ocalan’s release are essential for an honorable peace.

5. Calling for the establishment of mechanisms for community reconciliation, truth-seeking, and healing, emphasizing the importance of the committee formed in Turkey’s Grand National Assembly (TBMM), and calling for the creation of a “Committee for Social Peace and Democratic Turkey.”

6. Proposing the organization of a “Peace and Democratization Conference” at the national level in 2026, with the participation of various segments of Turkish society.

7. Considering this conference as a first step toward establishing the International Forum for Peace and Democratic Society, which will convene annually, and stressing the need to sustain efforts within this framework.

Participants also praised the positive stance of the European Parliament, calling on the European Union to play a more active and constructive role in supporting the peace process, whether through mediation or guarantees, in coordination with all concerned parties.

Regarding the future of peace and democratic transition in Turkey, the statement stressed that ensuring the freedom of all political detainees, including Leader Ocalan and those detained in the Kobani case, is a historical and legal necessity. It noted that the isolation imposed for more than 26 years contradicts national and international laws, urging Turkey to fully comply with its human rights obligations.

Participants concluded by affirming that this declaration represents a historic step on the path to lasting peace, calling on all parties to shoulder their responsibilities, and reaffirming their commitment to monitoring the progress of the process and preserving hope for building a stable and inclusive democratic society.

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ANHA