A delegation of 136 people, including academics, trade unionists, representatives of women’s organisations and mayors from Italy will join the Newroz celebrations in North Kurdistan. The members of the delegation are to join the Newroz celebrations in 6 different cities and are also to hold meetings with the executives of HDP, DBP and DTK as well as representatives from the NGOs in the region.

34 people from the delegation have already arrived to join the Newroz celebration in Suruç. The rest of the delegation is expected to be in North Kurdistan today.

The members of the Italian delegation are from various trade unions and organisations from Italy, including CGIL (Confederaziona Generale İtalia del Lavoro), COBAS Confederation, Metal Workers Trade Union, FIOM, ARCI, the Democratic Lawyers Union (Giuristi Democratici), Communist Youth Branches as well as various women’s organisations. Some university students, representatives of NGOs and physicians are also taking part in the delegation. The members are from different cities in Italy, including Rome, Turin, Milan, Bologna and Genoa and from Sicily and Sardinia.

The delegation will hold meetings in 7 groups in 6 cities in North Kurdistan and join the Newroz celebrations in Batman, Van, Hakkari, Urfa, Bingol and in Amed.

The groups will have meetings with representatives from TUHAD-DER, TUHAD-FED, MEYA-DER , IHD, Selis Women’s Association and Peace Mothers, while the municipalities of Batman, Erciş, Karakoçan and Viransehir will also host the members of the Italian delegation.

The delegation is also expected to visit the Dicle Fırat Culture Centre, Viransehir Culture Centre and to hold meetings with the representatives of branches of the DBP, HDP and DTK in Urfa, Bingol and Amed. A group from the delegation will also visit the camps in Amed, Batman and Viransehir where Yazidi people are staying.

The final destination of the delegation is to be Suruç, where solidarity actions will take place in support of the 6-month resistance in Kobanê. The delegation will visit the Rojava, Arin Mirxan and Kader Ortakaya tent cities set up for the people from Kobanê to hear the needs and expectations of the people.

The delegation will also have the opportunity to make concrete assessments regarding how they can contribute to the rebuilding process in Kobanê.