KESK Fully Supports Women Crying "I Need Peace!": "Parliament to Duty!" Call in Front of TBMM

Ankara – As calls for peace and social reconciliation strengthen in Turkey, the Confederation of Public Employees' Unions (KESK) demonstrated its strong commitment to the demand for peace by participating in a critical demonstration organized by the "I Need Peace Women's Initiative" in front of the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM). In the protest, which included KESK Co-Chair Ayfer Koçak and KESK General Secretary Sevgi Yılmaz, women from all corners of the country urgently called on the TBMM to create a legal basis for peace with the motto, "We are here! We insist on peace! Parliament to duty!"

Women's Cry for Peace: "We Are Here! We Insist on Peace!"

The "I Need Peace Women's Initiative" is a significant platform that has consistently advocated for social peace in Turkey for years, bringing together women from diverse segments of society. Believing that peace is the cornerstone of social life, this initiative continues to be the voice of conscience against the destruction caused by war and conflict. This demonstration in front of the TBMM was part of the initiative's efforts to articulate its demand for peace at the highest level.

Hundreds of women participating in the protest, with their silent but determined stance, expressed their burdens and their longing for peace. With their banners and symbols, they emphasized that peace is not merely a wish, but a reality that must be built with concrete steps. By declaring "We are here!", they demonstrated their presence; by stating "We insist on peace!", they showed their resolve in their demands; and finally, by crying "Parliament to duty!", they demanded a concrete action plan from the country's highest legislative body. This call carries a strong message regarding the necessity for political will to act to achieve peace.

KESK's Emphasis on the Inseparability of Union Struggle and Peace

The participation of the KESK Confederation, which fights for the rights of public employees, in this peace demonstration at the level of Co-Chair and General Secretary, once again showed that the union struggle is not limited to economic and social rights, but is also directly related to universal values such as social peace and democracy. KESK has adopted the principle that neither democratic rights nor trade union freedoms can be fully experienced in an environment devoid of peace.

KESK executives and members, by supporting the women's demand for peace, expressed that all public employees also share the longing for a peaceful and democratic Turkey. KESK's participation also demonstrated the ability of different components of civil society to come together on the axis of peace and democracy.

Urgent Call for Action to TBMM

The demonstrators demanded that the TBMM "urgently take action to create the legal basis for peace." This demand points to the importance of steps to be taken towards ending conflicts, developing social dialogue, and legally securing peace processes. The call from strong civil society organizations like the "I Need Peace Women's Initiative" and KESK will continue to increase pressure on political actors to develop peace-oriented policies.

In this sensitive period that Turkey is going through, the demand for peace being voiced by different segments and with a strong voice was recorded as a hopeful development. This cry for peace, spearheaded by women and supported by KESK, will continue to resonate.