The International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, observed annually on 25 November, commemorates the sacrifice of the Mirabal sisters, who were murdered by the Trujillo dictatorship in the Dominican Republic in 1960. Their courage and resistance have become global symbols in the fight against gender-based violence, inspiring the United Nations to designate the day as a call to action to end violence against women.
Medya News is launching a week of in-depth coverage to spotlight women’s struggles and their resilience in the face of systemic violence. Beginning on 18 November, our special series will bring to light stories of determination and activism, featuring exclusive interviews with women from diverse movements and regions. We will address the harsh realities of violence against women, their strategies for self-defence, and the crucial role men must play in eradicating this violence.
The series will examine urgent issues, including Turkey’s targeting of women journalists, such as Gulistan Tara and Hero Bahadin, who were killed in a Turkish drone strike in Iraqi Kurdistan this summer. We will look at the global impact of the Kurdish-origin ‘Jin, Jiyan, Azadî’ (Woman, Life, Freedom) movement, which continues to inspire activists worldwide, and analyse how women’s liberation movements in Turkey are evolving following the country’s withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention. Our reports will also scrutinise Turkey’s femicide crisis and highlight stories of resistance, from women-led forces like the Women’s Protection Units (YPJ) to grassroots organising efforts.
In-depth coverage will also explore Jineology (Jineolojî), a women’s science and feminist framework inspired by the work of Abdullah Öcalan, leader of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). Jineology, underpinning governance in Kurdish-led northern Syria, known as Rojava, asserts that women’s freedom is essential to achieving a free and just society.
Additionally, we will expose how Turkish government-appointed trustees dismantled women’s centres in Kurdish-majority southeastern Turkey, replacing them with state-controlled programmes that fail to address women’s needs. Our reports will highlight the efforts of pro-Kurdish municipalities, elected during this year’s local elections, to revive these critical women-centred initiatives.
Our coverage will also focus on the persecution of women in Iran, particularly Kurdish women, who face executions and lengthy prison sentences for standing up against oppression. We will shine a spotlight on Kurdish women’s media outlets, from news agencies to journals, which play a vital role in amplifying women’s voices and documenting their struggles.
Stay with Medya News in the lead-up to 25 November as we provide a platform for the women fighting tirelessly for freedom, equality, and the right to live free from violence.
