350 women from Turkey and Greece make a call for peace

Click to read the article in Turkish / Kurdish

Women from Greece and Turkey have made a call for peace in the face of escalating tensions between the two countries in the Eastern Mediterraenan. Initiated by women's rights activist Gülseren Onanç, the joint declaration entitled "A Call for Peace" has been signed by 350 women.

In their joint call, women have reiterated their "determination to strive for peace in the Aegean, enhance shared culture, and embrace solidarity and friendship despite the patriarchal system that threatens the world."

Published in Greek, Turkish and English on www.womencallforpeace.net website, artists Jülide Kural and Füsun Demirel, writer Ayşe Kulin and politician Prof. Binnaz Toprak from Turkey have also expressed their support for the campaign. Women who want to sign the joint call for peace can do so on the website of the campaign.

The full statement of the women is as follows:

'We call an end to dangerous escalation'

"We, women from Turkey and Greece, are following the escalation of tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean with great concern.

Tensions that have risen through confrontational rhetoric and increased military mobilization from both sides intensifies the risk of armed conflict.

The discourse of conflict and the possibility of confrontation threaten not only security and peace in the two countries concerned but the entire region at large. We, as women, are calling for an 'end' to the dangerous escalation.

We believe that cooperation between the two countries is more important than ever at a time when the global pandemic is deepening inequality, leading to economic crises and increasing the marginalization of women.

We believe that Greece and Turkey can negotiate their differences through peaceful diligent diplomacy under the guidelines of international law and equity, if necessary, with observers from international institutions.

The peaceful co-existence of the peoples of Greece and Turkey is more valuable than all underground resources.

Peace, nature and people are the most valuable assets for humanity. As peace loving women from Greece and Turkey, we are determined to strive for peace in the Aegean, enhance our shared culture, and embrace solidarity and friendship despite the patriarchal system that threatens the world."

Click here for the full list of signatories

(EMK/SD)