The event of HAK-İŞ Confederation, which organized the “International Solidarity Conference with Palestinian Women” within the scope of March 8, International Working Women’s Day, was held at ATO Congresium with the participation of 60 unionists from 37 countries and nearly 5 thousand HAK-İŞ women from 81 provinces of TRNC and Turkey.
Among the participants and speakers of the event were Minister of Family and Social Services Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş and HAK-İŞ Confederation Chairman Mahmut Arslan.
HAK-İŞ Women’s Committee President Fatma Zengin, who came to the podium at the event, wanted the human tragedy in Palestine, especially in Gaza, to end.
We are all one for our Palestinian brothers
Zengin emphasized that they, as the pioneers of the world labor movement, gathered to stop the massacre and genocide taking place before the eyes of the world, and continued his speech as follows:
“We are here to end the human tragedy in Palestine and to show our international solidarity to our Palestinian women. Unionist women leaders from all over the world are here, HAK-İŞ organization is here. The women of Northern Cyprus who were blockaded for six years and gained their freedom are here, the brave women of Anatolia who fought for liberation while all sides were under enemy occupation are here, my brothers and sisters who are domestic workers, the visible face of labor, are here, representatives of non-governmental organizations and the public and private sectors are here, our members from 81 provinces here, we are here. We are all united for our Palestinian brothers and sisters. “Our body is here, our heart and mind are in Gaza.”
We stand with the oppressed people of the world
HAK-İŞ Women’s Committee President Zengin said the following while giving information about the search for rights and justice:
“We have been holding the HAK-İŞ International Women’s Labor Meeting with a different theme for 13 years. We discuss issues related to women and life. Our entire search for rights and justice has turned into a struggle to survive and seek peace due to the pandemics, earthquakes and wars in recent years. The whole world has been fighting the epidemic for more than three years. A year ago, thousands of our citizens lost their lives due to the earthquake, the disaster of the century, that affected 11 provinces. Thousands of people lost their families, loved ones, homes, jobs and dreams. May God have mercy on those we lost, and I wish patience and health to those who remain. As HAK-İŞ women, in our search for rights and justice, with the motto “Wherever there is an oppressed person in the world, we are there”, we are constantly and tirelessly walking towards the goal with our belief that exceeds our strength and with our cause that is greater than our belief.” (source:haymanagazetesi.org)
