JINHA

İSTANBUL – As the state’s violence in Kurdistan turns towards women, male-dominated mentality has targeted women and children in the West. The members of the Women's Initiative for Peace (BİKG) stated that the militarism and war are directly linked to violence against women and they said, “We must carry out a common struggle. It won’t always go that way. Someday, we will be free in peace.”

The war policies of the state, which have been carried out in North Kurdistan, have seen in West as violence against women and sexual abuse against children. The members of the Women's Initiative for Peace (BİKG) stated that the militarism and war are directly linked to violence against women. They evaluated the war effects on women.
One of them is Seher Kalkan. Seher said, “Women’s murders have increased recently. We don’t think that isn’t linked to war environment. The state always develops the male violence. Punishment of women, those who want peace, is linked to these policies.

“While we talked peace process, we found ourselves in the war. The women, who asked peace, were killed. Their dead bodies were identified in the streets or they have been jailed. They were exposed to sexual violence under when they were detained. The smallest support on peace is valuable. Everyone can fight for peace wherever they stay. The violence against women and children is increased in the war.”

Another member of the Women's Initiative for Peace (BİKG) Dünya Erdem, meanwhile, said, “The men create this war. Violence against women has increased in Kurdistan and in the West. Women have been killed and children have been harassed.” Dünya reminded the academics and said, “The academics have been arrested just because they signed peace petition. They ask to end the war like journalists and lawyers.”

Nilgün Yurdalan, meanwhile, said, “We must carry out a common struggle. It won’t always go that way. Someday, we will be free in peace.”

(ce/ck/mg/gd)