Women’s eights, right to mother tongue at center of dialogue seminar in Hasakah

As part of the April 26 campaign activities launched by the Joint Activities Platform of Women’s Organizations in Rojava in support of the Women’s Protection Units (YPJ) fighters under the slogan “We Are All YPJ – YPJ Represents Us,” which continues for three days, the Women’s Office of the Union of Intellectuals in Jazira, in coordination with the Women’s Council of the Democratic Society Movement (TEV-DEM), organized a dialogue seminar today in the Reading Garden in the city of Hasakah.

The event, which began with a minute of silence in honor of the martyrs, was attended by female figures, poets, and women’s rights activists.

The seminar was presented by Jvin Habib, a member of the Union of Intellectuals in the city of Amuda, who welcomed the attendees at the beginning of her speech.

She said: “Although constitutions around the world agree on safeguarding women’s rights, the reality in our region is witnessing a sharp decline. After 14 years of struggle, we find ourselves returning to square one due to the policies of the interim government, which still refuses to fully recognize women’s rights and political status.”

She added: “Today, the issue of the Women’s Protection Units is sparking wide debate on a global level. This force, which emerged through its heroism and drew the attention of the world, is facing attempts at marginalization and exclusion from the constitution despite its central role in embodying the concept of women’s freedom, summarized by leader Abdullah Ocalan in his famous statement: ‘The freedom of society begins with the freedom of women.’”

During her remarks, she noted that “the exclusion of women from integration processes and decision-making is not due to a lack of competence, but because women have proven their ability to build themselves, believe in the values of justice and equality, and succeed in forming one of the most prominent military forces that confronted (ISIS) mercenaries.” She emphasized that “women, through their thought and strength, possess the ability to rebuild society and confront injustice.”

She pointed out that “the issue of the Women’s Protection Units has dominated discussions related to integration processes, not merely as a military issue, but because it represents a symbol of strength and equality through which women proved their presence in a model that faced systematic attempts to marginalize women’s role, despite women today having become a fundamental pillar in various institutions and administrations.”

She affirmed that “the essence of the issue today is based on two inseparable pillars: women’s rights and the right to the mother tongue,” considering that “attempts to deny official recognition to these two issues represent a direct attack on the cultural and political identity of society.”

The seminar concluded with audience interventions, including inquiries and questions regarding preserving the role of the Women’s Protection Units in the new constitution.

The activities supporting the Women’s Protection Units are scheduled to continue tomorrow on their third and final day, concluding with artistic and theatrical performances.

ANHA