Leader's message on International Day for Elimination of Violence Against Women

On this occasion, November 25, Leader Abdullah Ocalan sent a message addressing the roots of violence against women and the role of feminist struggle in building a free and democratic society.

The text of the Leader’s message is as follows:

It is clear that the existence and status of women is not an easy matter, and liberation is not something simple. Yet, women must undertake this struggle with determination and willpower, to strengthen their position and strike a decisive blow to the roots of the patriarchal system dominating social structures. At the same time, they must strive to build a free and democratic life in which women are leaders in shaping the future.

Society is not a unified structure belonging to one gender alone, it is a historical arena of struggle made up of multiple layers. The greatest and oldest problem facing humanity is human enslavement, which began with the oppression of women. This initial attack on the status of women served as the starting point for building social patterns that produced oppression and domination.

Domestic violence, the killing of women, and the ongoing patriarchal pressures are all manifestations of this continuous historical attack. The 'class/sectarian' structure that attacked communal life and the social system based on the role of women has transformed throughout history: from Mesopotamian civilizations to the assemblies of gods and Sumerian priests, then to the governments of the Pharaohs and sultans, continuing patriarchal pressures on society to this day.

In this era, woman is considered the most exploited resource within the capitalist system, where her body is sold and her identity is commercialized in the markets. The woman who is dominated by man faces the blows of the patriarchal system, whose roots have been entrenched for thousands of years in thought and in society. This system controls the state, language, production, and society, and renders woman powerless, to the point where it becomes clear that no step toward freedom can be achieved unless women are liberated first.

We must understand the ongoing violation in which the patriarchal system constantly imposes femicide, domestic violence, and discrimination. Woman is drained completely and forced to submit to male social molds, while her right to express herself is ignored. All these practices are proof of the continuity of patriarchal domination throughout history, which has grown even more violent and exploitative under capitalist modernity.

Society cannot move toward social freedom unless woman is liberated from this systematic exploitation. True freedom for women requires immense strength and comprehensive organization in order to break the dagger of patriarchal domination rooted within the social structure, while at the same time building a free and democratic life in which women are pioneering and leading.

The fundamental step toward any real change in society begins with the liberation of women. Women’s freedom is not an easy task, and freedom is not a right that is granted easily, but it is the inevitable path to building a just and balanced society. Human relationships cannot be healthy and stable unless true equality between women and men is achieved.

The struggle against the patriarchal system is the foundation for any society that seeks to be free and democratic. Therefore, the full participation of women in all fields of life – social, economic, and cultural – must be an integral part of building the future. Feminist freedom is not a secondary choice, but a condition for the existence of a real society that protects the rights of all its members and guarantees justice and equality.

Abdullah Ocalan

25 December 2025

A-H 

ANHA