Under the motto “Mothers are pioneers of a democratic society and lasting peace,” the third conference of the Council of Peace Mothers began on Saturday in Amed (tr. Diyarbakır).
The two-day event—the first of its kind in twelve years—is taking place at the ÇandAmed Congress Center and brings together numerous activists, politicians, and supporters, including representatives of the Free Women’s Movement (Tevgera Jinên Azad, TJA), the DEM Party (Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party), DBP (Democratic Regions Party), members of parliament, local government representatives, and civil society organizations.
“I learned the most from my mother”
The event began with a video documentary about the history of the Peace Mothers. This was followed by the reading of a written message from Abdullah Öcalan, the leader of the Kurdish freedom movement who has been imprisoned on the Turkish prison island of Imrali since 1999. In his message, Öcalan expressed his appreciation to the Peace Mothers for their many years of commitment: “I learned the most from my mother—about the truth of life, about patience, but above all about a dignified and upright attitude. The Peace Mothers embody this dignity and attitude.”
Öcalan emphasized the need for women to live self-determined and free lives, stating the following:
“Women should live as they want, but they must also have the courage to live freely. Out of respect for women, I adopted the principle that ‘freedom must begin in thought’.
‘It is important to transcend the traditional societal expectations imposed on women’
As Peace Mothers who stand at the forefront of the peace struggle and defend life, you have always been at the forefront of our struggle for peace and freedom. Of course, your place in our struggle as mothers is indisputable. However, I believe it is important to transcend the traditional societal expectations imposed on women to be mothers and wives. Alongside your identity as mothers, you must also fight with your identity and consciousness as free women.
This land, where the first matriarchal society emerged, is also the place where the first social problems and contradictions arose. The first social problem and contradiction began with the enslavement of women. The enslavement of women and the enslavement of society go hand in hand. Contrary to popular belief, enslavement did not begin with the emergence of the state, but with the enslavement of women. This developing contradiction and social problem form the source of the problems we face today.
‘The way out is to build a democratic communal life together’
The way out of this predicament is to build a democratic communal life together.
The ‘Call for Peace and a Democratic Society’ that we made on February 27 also places duties and responsibilities on the women’s movement and the Peace Mothers. A new era is beginning. Organizing a socialist life based on a democratic communal system will be possible through peace. On this occasion, I greet all our Peace Mothers and wish them success in their work.”