The spokesperson for the Initiative of the European Kurdish Women’s National Union, Şilan Eminoğlu, explained that the initiative is open to all women living in the four parts of Kurdistan, regardless of faith, ethnicity, language, or background. She said: "It is open to all women who embrace their identity, selfhood, language, and freedom. This is not affiliated with any political party."

On 12 May, the 51st anniversary of the martyrdom of Leyla Qasim, women gathered in the German city of Cologne to announce the formation of the European Kurdish Women’s National Union Initiative. Şilan Eminoğlu spoke to ANF on the occasion.

Eminoğlu said that the women most in need of such a union are those who have been forcibly displaced and now live in Europe. She explained that these women face a dual struggle: resisting the male-dominated mindset and coping with the challenges of being disconnected from their culture, language, and roots.

We will solve our problems ourselves

Şilan Eminoğlu reminded that women have made various efforts to come together and continued: "In Kurdistan, the mentality imposed by the dominant system, political parties, and ideologies generally prevented the formation and continuity of this unity. Now, we women are building our own union again to overcome all of this. In true solidarity, we will solve our problems ourselves. Women have paid a heavy price in the struggle for freedom. This did not start with us. Enormous sacrifices have been made for this cause. The ground we stand on today, even the opportunity to speak out, exists thanks to the values they created. We owe it to them."

The call created new ground

Eminoğlu said that the 'Call for Peace and a Democratic Society' made by Mr. Öcalan on February 27 opened up new ground and a new atmosphere for women as well. She underlined that the leadership role women will play in this struggle is rooted in the perspective of Abdullah Öcalan.

"We are the ones who need this the most," Eminoğlu stated. She expressed their aim to include all segments who share the values of Kurdistan in this initiative.

She continued: "Regardless of ideology, belief, ethnicity, language, or faith, this women’s platform is open to all women living in the four parts of Kurdistan who embrace their identity, selfhood, language, and freedom. This platform is not affiliated with any political party."

Women can unite their strength

Şilan Eminoğlu emphasized her belief that women can unite their strength and, through this unity, resolve many issues. "Our direction is Kurdistan," she said, adding: "In a free Kurdistan, with a free Mr. Öcalan, we want to unite and expand our strength."

She underlined that they will maintain dialogue with similar efforts being made in other parts of Kurdistan and reiterated that the initiative will remain independent of any party or group.

A workshop to include all four parts of Kurdistan

Eminoğlu explained that they plan to organize a workshop to discuss the problems faced by women across the four parts of Kurdistan and to seek collective solutions. She added that they also aim to develop a program to address the challenges faced by women, children, youth, and Kurds in the diaspora, and to propose practical responses to these problems.

She stated their intention to unite existing efforts under one umbrella and said: "There are artists with different ideologies working within different platforms and institutions. Why shouldn’t these artists form their own union? There are healthcare workers living far from their homeland. They, too, can come together, create their own union, and seek solutions to their challenges."

Eminoğlu clarified that they will not impose any pre-designed model and that the work will be guided by the demands, needs, and expectations of the participants.

Aiming for a united umbrella organization

Şilan Eminoğlu said the long-term goal of the initiative is to form an umbrella organization and build women's confederalism. She stated: "Of course, I do not want to speak on behalf of all women. But the ultimate goal could be women's confederalism. What matters is that Kurdish women come together through this work and determine our collective goal. It would not be right to say ‘this is what we will do’ on behalf of everyone. We will define that together. The final goal could be women’s confederalism. We can direct our efforts accordingly."

Let us raise the struggle together

Referring to Mr. Öcalan’s women’s liberation paradigm, Eminoğlu said that no other leadership has reflected so deeply on the pioneering role of women. She addressed women directly: "Women fought during the war, but once a ‘solution’ was proposed, they were forced back into domestic roles, into the kitchen. The mission that Mr. Öcalan entrusted to us is not this. That is why we, more than anyone else, have the responsibility to defend his physical freedom and his paradigm. Let us build our own unity. Let us embrace Mr. Öcalan’s paradigm so that we can live in a democratic and free Kurdistan. Let us raise this struggle together and carry it to the end. We have the strength. Women have that strength. They carry the energy and the synergy. Wherever women place their hands, it becomes a place of freedom and democracy."