Bêrîtan Canözer-Bêrîtan Elyakut / JINHA

MÊRDÎN – Mariana Paes, of the World March of Women (WMW)'s Brazil coordination, called on women to stand up against the massacre of women and to support their sisters in Kobanê and Shengal.

The World March of Women brings together grassroots women's groups from around the world to demand political, economic and social change for women with their international actions ongoing since 2000. The fourth international action is a transcontinental march, starting in Nusaybin—just across the border from Rojava—to call attention to the women's revolution ongoing there. Over the last few days, Nusaybin has become a multilingual city of women, thanks to the influx of guests from across Kurdistan and the world.

"I'm very happy to be here. For women of the world to come together here under a single slogan is very exciting for me," said Mariana. "Women experience violence around the world. They're killed around the world. I know that recently Özgecan was burned to death in Mersin and as a woman, this wounded me deeply."

Mariana said that although she didn't share a language with the women of Nusaybin, they were able to understand each other easily because of their shared experience. "We women are a force of nature," she said.

Hiva Erabo, a representative from Rojava'sCizîrê Canton, says the march is a wonderful thing for Rojava women to see. "Everyone knows women are oppressed and discounted around the world but women never gave up life. Women are life, and there are those who would destroy the life force. We are holding this march to escalate our resistance and show it to the whole world." She said that seeing the march organized and hosted by Kurdish women in Nusaybin was especially powerful.

Nur Yılmaz, who came to the march from Ankara, said that the fact that the march started in Nusaybin was meaningful for women of the Middle East.

"This march first of all stands against violence against women. Standing up against war, poverty and the destruction of nature is important and I think that by coming together here, women around the world can strengthen their struggle," said Nur. "Long live women's solidarity. All women, take to the streets and raise your voices!"

(fk/cm)