A general conference was organised in Chiapas to mark the 30th anniversary of the Zapatista Uprising. Chiapas is one of the poorest regions of Mexico. 30 years ago, the people of Chiapas rebelled against the state. They formed their own forces and women took part in the military field. The people rebelled against the impact of capitalism on the region and against the Mexican government's occupation of the people's land.

The conference began on 1 January and lasted for a week. The conference was organised by the Zapatista Community Organisation and its military institution, the Zapatista Army of National Liberation (EZLN), and saw participation from 20 countries. At the conference, tribute was paid to the uprising was commemorated and the need to create a free system was emphasised.

Shengal Women's Units (YJŞ) released a statement saluting the conference and stated that they viewed the Zapatista conference as valuable and important. “We honour and celebrate the peoples who struggle for the existence and freedom of their country,” said the YJŞ statement, which includes the following:

"Firsly, we offer our regards and greetings and pay tribute to all those who heroically sacrificed their lives in the Zapatista Uprising.

'We salute the Zapatistas'

As the defence units of Shengal, we consider your conference valuable. We consider the peoples who struggle for their country and land honourable. In order for the struggle to achieve results, it is important to organise and defend oneself. We know that 40 years ago the Zapatista people and women built their forces to defend themselves against the attacks directed against them and 30 years ago they founded the Zapatista organisation. We commemorate this historic anniversary and salute the Zapatistas.

'Women are always the first to be targeted'

In all attacks, women are the first to be targeted. As Yazidi women, we have experienced this. In 2014, when ISIS gangs attacked Shengal, they wanted to destroy the Yazidi community in the person of Yazidi women. Thousands of women and Yazidi people were captured by ISIS gangs in the 74th decree on 3 August 2014. Until now, the fate of many of them remains unknown. At the time of the onslaught, the Yazidi community was not organized and strong-willed to defend itself. However, after the onslaught, Yazidi women and people declared their own defence forces, the YJŞ-YBŞ.

'The solution lies in the ideas of Leader Apo'

Yazidi women and people organised themselves with the ideas and thoughts of Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan and established their defence forces. We saw our freedom in the ideas and philosophy of Leader Apo and made his ideas the basis for organising ourselves. We have been organising ourselves on this basis until now. We are fighting for the rights of women and peoples for a just and common life against invaders, attacks, destruction of nature, state and male violence.

We believe that with the philosophy of ‘Jin, Jiyan, Azadi’ (Women, Life, Freedom), the patriarchal mentality will end, and a democratic and free life will be realised. Once again, we salute your conference with respect and wish you success.

'Long live the unity of peoples', 'Jin, Jiyan, Azadi', 'El pueblo unîdo xamas zera vensido'."