ANKARA-Women from HDP and female members of the Danish Parliament evaluated the decision to withdraw from the Istanbul Convention in an online meeting. The women expressed their determination to continue the struggle on international platforms.

 

Women executives of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) met with Danish participants at the online meeting hosted by of Sinem Demir, Anne Hegelund and Maria Temponeras, members of the Red-Green Alliance Women's Committee. HDP Women's Council Spokesperson Ayşe Acar Başaran, HDP Women's Diplomacy Commission Spokesperson and Middle East Desk Co-Spokesperson Gülistan Kılıç Koçyiğit, HDP Co-Chair for Foreign Affairs Feleknas Uca and HDP Foreign Affairs Committee Member Ayşe Berktay, Danish Parliament Members Sinem Demir, Anne Hegelund, Maria Temponeras, and Danish participants attended to the meeting. 

 

THE ISTANBUL CONVENTION

 

Speaking at the meeting, Ayşe Acar Başaran stated that the decision to withdraw from the Istanbul Convention does not concern only Turkey. Başaran said, "We need to grow the international women's struggle against the monist, militarist, nationalist male-dominated mentality all over the World." HDP MP Feleknas Uca said: "The Istanbul Convention takes its importance from the struggle until the moment it was won. That is why we must defend this convention together."

 

The Danish delegation stated that the violations of rights, the decision to withdraw from the Istanbul Convention and the isolation on PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan, should be evaluated as a whole. The delegation mentioned that it is essential to work on these issues with the wider international communities and to continue the meetings.