The pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party in Turkey, under the co-leadership of Tülay Hatimoğulları, has made a compelling case for gender equality, setting it apart in Turkish politics.
The announcement of their women-focused election manifesto for the coming 31 March local elections was made at an event held in Ankara that drew a diverse crowd of women adorned in traditional attire, including candidates for co-chair positions.
The venue was decorated with multilingual banners advocating for the rights of Kurdish people and calling for an end to the isolation imposed on Abdullah Öcalan, the imprisoned leader of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).
Addressing the crowd and the press, party co-chair Hatimoğulları linked the manifesto to a historical struggle spanning 5,000 years, highlighting the resilience of Kurdish women against patriarchal oppression. “Our manifesto is a testament to our commitment to challenging male-dominated urban structures with our vision of women’s liberation, ecological sustainability and democratic governance,” she asserted.
Hatimoğulları honoured various historical and contemporary female figures who have significantly contributed to the women’s movement, from ancient deities and medieval witches to modern activists and the Kurdish Peace Mothers who have remained steadfast in their quest for peace in the face of severe adversity. She also acknowledged the influential role of women from Rojava in North and East Syria in enhancing women’s movements across the Middle East and North Africa.
A distinctive feature of the DEM Party, as Hatimoğulları highlighted, is its dedication to co-leadership and equal representation, a practice not found in other political parties in Turkey. “We stand alone in Turkish politics as the only party committed to gender equality. We go beyond symbolic gestures offered by mainstream parties, embedding co-leadership and equal representation deeply within our party structure to ensure women’s politics make a significant impact on Turkey’s societal transformation,” she explained.
The manifesto reading by DEM Party Women’s Council Spokeswoman Halide Türkoğlu and a video tribute to the imprisoned politician Gültan Kışanak further emphasised the party’s pledge to enhance the influence of women in politics and in society. The rallying cry “Jin, Jiyan, Azadî” (Woman, Life, Freedom) echoed throughout the event, encapsulating the party’s core belief in women’s empowerment and equality.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE MANIFESTO
The edited version of the DEM Party manifesto given below aims to enhance readability and accessibility for our readers, ensuring a clear understanding of the DEM Party’s initiatives and commitments:
The DEM Party is determined to reclaim the rights [of the people] under the banner of ‘Local Administrations with the Will of Women’, despite being faced with governmental challenges such as institutionalised fascism, discriminatory policies against Kurds and women, municipal trusteeships*, violence and oppression. Past victories serve as a foundation for further expanding successes. The party plans to collaborate with women’s organisations, civil initiatives and neighbourhood councils to establish Women’s Councils, aiming to devise collective solutions to shared problems through solidarity.
The DEM Party is committed to reinforcing women’s influence across all aspects of life through the co-chair system, ensuring their comprehensive involvement in urban governance, and fostering the concept of democratic local governance. The principle of equal representation and the “zipper system” (one male, one female throughout the entire administrative structure) will be upheld in municipal and provincial general council lists.
Expansion of the struggle, solidarity and collaboration of women in local governments at regional, national and international levels is a key goal. The multi-identity, multi-cultural and multi-lingual structure of communities will be supported through women’s solidarity to enhance all women’s participation in decision-making mechanisms.
The party intends to sustain and expand a social life rooted in equality and freedom, guided by policies favouring women and the principle of local governance. This includes implementing the principle of equal access to education in the mother tongue, urban planning and urban services for all women residing locally.
Previously established Directorates for Women’s Policies in metropolitan cities, as well as Women’s Desks, Women’s Councils and Women’s Policies Directorates in other provinces and districts, will all be strengthened and expanded as required. Units have been initiated focusing on women’s economy, combating violence against women, women’s education and Women’s Cooperatives and Centres. These institutions will also be strengthened and expanded as required.
Municipal Women’s Councils, consisting of elected and employed women, will be formed to effectively integrate women into the decision-making processes of municipalities. The practice of ‘a council within a council’ will continue to ensure all local policies reflect the women’s perspective through Women’s Councils, Women’s Coordinations and Male-Female Equality Commissions that include both genders.
Provisions will be included in collective agreements within local governments to impose sanctions on employees who commit violence against women.
The active participation of young women in discourse, authority and decision-making mechanisms will be supported within units that determine women’s policies.
The party aims to counter the male-dominated capitalist system by producing policies for the socialisation of care work, providing public nurseries and care services for the elderly, the sick and the disabled.
Applying a democratic, ecological and women’s liberationist local governance model, the DEM Party aspires to inspire the greater women’s struggle, aiming to make the 21st century a time for women. The co-chair system will be steadfastly implemented in all municipalities, including metropolitan, provincial, district and town councils. Women’s Political Academies and Local Government Women’s Policies Schools will be expanded.
All male-dominated, non-transparent budgets at both central and local levels that perpetuate gender inequality will be rejected. Strategic planning, budgeting, discussion and decision-making processes in municipalities will be conducted with the active participation of women’s councils and women’s organisations, prioritising gender training for municipal employment.
Among the key initiatives will be Women’s Memory Centres, Women’s Political Academies and projects aimed at young women, women’s disaster action plans and combating violence. Efforts will be made to combat ableism and ensure the inclusion of women with disabilities in all aspects of life, advocating for their rights to accessible and free healthcare in their mother tongue.
Ecology and women-friendly living space policies will focus on building green cities, expanding tree planting campaigns and establishing city forests led by women.
Policies will be developed to address issues related to employment, language barriers, violence, health access and social integration for women refugees, ensuring they live freely and equally in their new communities.
* the practice of deposing elected pro-Kurdish municipal council leaders and replacing them with government appointees, or ‘trustees’
