From the introduction of JIN CARD*, a unique initiative for women’s mobility, to the establishment of free life centres that prioritise ecological living and childcare, the Peoples’ Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party unveiled a groundbreaking Women’s Manifesto in Diyarbakır (Amed) on Saturday aimed at weaving gender equality and women’s empowerment into the fabric of urban governance.
In the run-up to Turkey’s local elections scheduled for 31 March, the DEM Party’s Women’s Declaration, titled “Every Moment for Women, Every Moment for Amed,” proposes an extensive array of projects to revitalise the city through a feminist framework, addressing the consequences of state-appointed trusteeships which have historically marginalised women’s institutions and initiatives.
Key proposals include:
Establishment of Free Women Cooperatives: Reviving the project to support women’s economic empowerment and communal economy.
Creation of Free Life Centres: Designing spaces for women to thrive, focusing on ecological agriculture, child care and living harmoniously with nature.
Women’s Budgeting: Involving women in all stages of the budget-making process to develop a gender-sensitive budget, with a special focus on unique women’s needs.
Strengthening Women’s Economy: Encouraging local production and making women’s labour visible through various programs such as Digital Literacy-Marketing, Hobby and Vocational Courses and promoting the sale of women-produced goods in digital markets.
Cold Storage Facilities: Opening cold storages in every necessary district for women to store their produce longer.
Women City Gardens and Door-front Gardening: Reintroducing and providing free seedling services through “seed houses.”
Purple Stands and Women’s Local Markets: Expanding these projects with a dedicated women’s budget from the municipalities.
JIN CARD: Introducing a public transportation discount card system for women.
PED-MATICS: Deploying machines in pilot areas for free distribution of sanitary pads and hygiene materials to women, with plans for expansion based on need.
Vocational Training Courses: Offering widespread training in crafts, cooperatives, etc., prioritising women and disadvantaged groups and providing childcare units for participants’ children.
Combat Against All Forms of Violence Towards Women: Reclaiming institutions that were shut down by trustees, dedicated to combating violence against women and creating a “Violence Against Women Map” of Diyarbakir to develop more effective methods in this fight.
Preservation of Language and Culture: Strengthening networks against sexist and assimilationist policies, expanding Women’s Culture Houses and reconstructing the history through the “Mesopotamia Women Museum.”
Defending Ecological Life: Prioritising policies to protect nature and living spaces, establishing a City Aesthetics Council from a women’s perspective, and organising Women Ecology Festivals.
Disaster Preparedness and Response: Developing a three-phase “Women’s Disaster Response Action Plan” and establishing “Disaster Response Coordination for Women.”
Support for Immigrant and Refugee Women: Enhancing solidarity and integration efforts, providing psychosocial support and opening “Guest Houses” for women and children living on the streets.
Accessible Living Centres for the Disabled: Transforming negative perceptions of disability through local governance and ensuring the participation of disabled individuals in city life with universal design principles.
Comprehensive Support for Young Women: Addressing educational, economic and political barriers young women face, with initiatives ranging from free tutoring and cultural centres to scholarships for financially challenged university students.
This comprehensive manifesto not only seeks to reverse the damages inflicted by trusteeships but also envisions a city rebuilt on the principles of democracy, gender equality and environmental stewardship, embodying a holistic approach to urban development and governance.
(*) Jin means woman in Kurdish.
