The women's group of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) held a meeting in the parliament in Ankara attended by women's association Rosa and the Peace Mothers Initiative as well as the chair of the Revolutionary Party, Elif Torun.

HDP co-chair Pervin Buldan began her speech with greetings to all imprisoned politicians and activists, to the women in Rojava and to all fighting women such as the Istanbul “Saturday Mothers” and the Kurdish “Peace Mothers”. Regarding the powerful activities carried out on 8 March in Turkey and North Kurdistan, the co-chair of the HDP said: “Despite all the obstacles, on this year's Women’s Day we had the colors of women on the streets and squares with our enthusiasm, our hope and our resistance and made it clear that we stand up for our freedom.”

In fact, the events on 8 March in North Kurdistan were the biggest public actions of the last few months.

Pandemic exacerbates global inequality

In her speech, Buldan addressed the coronavirus pandemic, which is exacerbating inequality worldwide and affecting women in particular. “A male government cannot result in an order based on equality, justice and prosperity, neither for society as a whole nor for women. Their policies produce even more violence, chaos, inequality and exploitation. In order for the government to stay in power, women are increasingly being pushed into poverty. However, the world is built on the work of women. In order for this work to be visible in and outside the home environment, we are fighting for the rights of women. The HDP stands by the people's side without fear or hesitation and gives women a voice."

Femicides are reaching frightening dimensions

With the pandemic, male violence against women has also increased sharply, Buldan said. “Every day in Turkey at least one woman is murdered by a man. Femicides reached terrifying levels in the week leading up to 8 March. 92-year-old Hanım Pınarlı has been raped and murdered. A terrible picture emerges in Turkey, for which the political rulers are responsible. And why? The reason for this should be sought in another terrible case in Samsun: a woman has turned to the police several times, but nothing has been done to protect her. She was brutally mistreated in the street in front of her child. It is not the government's job to criticize such incidents, it must prevent them and ensure that the perpetrators are convincingly punished. With impunity, women murderers and violent criminals are encouraged."

Police violence against women's demonstrations

Regarding the police violence at this year's Women’s Day activities, Pervin Buldan said that women were dragged across the street by their hair and stressed that LGBT people were attacked. The degrading naked searches in police custody and in prisons also showed that the focus of misogynist politics was on male power, a male state and a male justice system.

"We shake the throne of those in power"

Pervin Buldan called on all women in the Turkish parliament to fight together. “Let's turn the men's parliament into a women's parliament! Let us find solutions together for all of our problems from male violence to female poverty. Let us create gender equality in all areas of life without any ifs or buts."

The HDP co-chair appealed to all other women to join forces with her party. The HDP is a women's party that emerged from the struggle of women, she said, adding: “Whatever happens, neither the HDP nor the women will allow themselves to be stopped. We will continue to shake the throne of those in power and thwart their plans. Women have come to rule this country with the HDP."