Today, women came together in eight cities to celebrate International Women’s Day. Women joined the celebrations, women’s gatherings, visited cemeteries, distributed carnations , and held a press conference.

News Center- Many women’s organizations, such as Free Women’s Movement (TJA) and Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) Women’s Council held events today for International Women’s Day. In Antep province, many women, including HDP MP Tülay Hatimoğulları, the party’s central executive board member Sultan Özcan, Peace Mothers’ Council members, participated in a celebration organized for International Women’s Day. Women carried banners reading, “Stop the violence, protect women, implement the Istanbul convention and Law No.6284” and “We rise up for our freedom”. HDP Central Executive Board member Sultan Özcan said that the main difference between her party and other parties is that HDP is a women’s party.

“Speak out for hunger strike launched in prisons”

HDP MP Tülay Hatimoğulları talked during the celebration and she said, “The ruling party attacks HDP to cover up the economic crisis. Women are most affected by this crisis. We will continue to strengthen our struggle for our jobs and bread.” Talking about the ongoing hunger strikes in prisons, Hatimoğulları said, “The struggle will continue until the isolation is lifted, and the demands of prisoners are accepted. For this reason, speak out for the hunger strikes in prisons.”

Women come together in Ağrı

Many women, including HDP MP Dilan Dirayet Taşdemir participated in a celebration held in the building of the HDP in Ağrı province. Women carried banners reading, “Prevent men who use violence, not women”, “We don't keep silent, we don't fear, we don't obey”. HDP MP Dilan Dirayet Taşdemir made a speech during the event and said, “No power can break our resistance. Women have struggled against the male regime throughout history. Society can't be free unless the women are free.”

Women visit the grave of Asya Yüksel in Şırnak

Women visited the grave of Cizre People's Assembly Co-Chair Asya Yüksel, who was killed on December 14, 2015 during the curfew imposed in Şırnak. Emine İnan, an activist of the Free Women’s Movement (TJA), made a speech and she said, “Asya was our friend began to struggle when she was very young. We will follow her struggle, and we will maintain her struggle.”

Women call on women to participate in a rally in Adana

Women distributed leaflets to invite women to participate in the rally to be held Uğur Mumcu Square on March 8.

Women’s gathering in Diyarbakır

A women’s gathering was organized in the Alibey Neighborhood of Diyarbakır’s Silvan district with the participation of HDP MP Semra Güzel. Another women’s gathering was organized in the Hani district of Diyarbakır province.

Women distribute carnations in Hakkari

Women visited female shopkeepers in Hakkari province. HDP MP Ayşe Sürücü also joined the event and women distributed carnations in the city.