The panel at the ruling Labour Party’s annual conference in the UK put on the agenda the support of British trade unions for peace and democratic society initiatives in Turkey.
The panel was chaired by Clare Baker, International Advisor of UNITE the Union. Speaking on behalf of the “Freedom for Öcalan Campaign,” UNITE the Union’s International Director, Simon Dubbins, recalled that the union, with over one million members, has been engaged in solidarity with the Kurdish political movement for nearly ten years and has taken the lead in these efforts at the Labour Party conference every year.
The panel, which addressed Abdullah Öcalan’s Call for Peace and Democratic Society, saw British trade unions share their experiences from international peace processes and their perspectives on solidarity. Speakers emphasized that the process in Turkey must be conducted on the basis of transparency and sensitivity, and that the UK Government must take on diplomatic responsibility.
Labour MP Rupa Huq shared her experiences of solidarity with different communities under pressure, and conveyed perspectives on peace drawn from her meetings with the Kurdish political movement and social structures in Turkey.
Mariela Kohon, who served as an advisor in the Colombian peace process and is part of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) leadership, highlighted TUC’s cooperation with KESK and DISK in Turkey.
She noted that the experiences of Colombia’s peace process and the integration of former combatants into society could serve as a guide for Turkey. She also stated that the “return home law,” expected to be discussed in Parliament on October 1, should be approached on the basis of positive integration to reinforce a democratic solution.
At the end of the panel, British trade unions announced plans in the coming months to establish direct coordination with trade unions in Turkey, carry out work centered in Bakur (Northern Kurdistan), and discuss this process within the TUC framework. The unions confirmed their commitment to maintaining solidarity for a lasting and positive peace.