Memehan Helbin Zidan

Van – In every region where conflict erupts, women are exposed to various forms of violence, especially systematic assaults. The effects of war remain deeply etched in their lives even after it ends. For this reason, women continually demand peace and reject war.

In the Middle East, wars are escalating day by day, forcing people to leave their homes involuntarily. Along migration routes, they face harsh challenges and must struggle to survive in the countries they reach.

 

Civilians in the Line of Fire

The exchange of attacks between the United States and Israel on one side and Iran on the other has entered its twelfth day. The Iranian Red Crescent announced that the two countries have so far targeted more than 6,000 civilian facilities. Iran’s permanent representative to the United Nations also confirmed that the war has resulted in the deaths of 1,332 civilians, including 300 children.

In his statements, U.S. President Donald Trump said that the decision to end the war would be taken in coordination with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, calling on Iran to surrender unconditionally. However, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian rejected the demand, declaring that his country is prepared for a long war.

As the war in the Middle East continues to claim more civilian victims and displacement increases, women are once again raising their voices: “We do not want war.”

 

“Those Not Killed in War May Lose Their Lives on Migration Routes”

Öznur Evin, a member of the Van Municipal Council (İpekyolu), emphasized that women reject wars in all their forms. She explained that the conflicts in Iran and other countries cast a heavy shadow over women and children.

“The bombing of a school in Iran killed a large number of girls. During wars, people are forced to flee, and women face the risk of death along migration routes, in addition to harassment and rape in the countries where they seek refuge.”

She also pointed to the lack of sufficient policies to protect migrant women, stressing that states must adopt more effective measures to ensure their safety.

“With every new war, a new wave of displacement begins, and women and children are at the forefront. Those not killed in war may lose their lives on migration routes or in exile. War targets women and children first, while those who ignite it remain far from the center of suffering.”

 

“Wars in the Middle East Must End”

For her part, Rabia Başak Koç, co-mayor of the Artamit (Edremit) Municipality, said that women are forced to leave their homes and land because of wars, stressing that achieving peace in the Middle East is an indispensable necessity for all peoples.

She expressed hope that wars in the Middle East will end and that women will be able to live in their homelands with dignity, equality, and freedom.

“We will continue to stand by women under all circumstances.”

 

“Women Are the Makers and Mediators of Peace”

Arife Arslan, co-chair of the Association for the Development of Kurdish Language and Culture, explained that every war is merely an extension of the previous one, noting that women are the group most affected by conflicts.

She stated that women are the first to suffer when war breaks out, yet they also play a central role in building peace.

“Wars are waged against women’s bodies, rights, and children. In the Middle East, we witness waves of displacement, looting, and massacres, all managed by imperial powers,” she said, emphasizing that women reject war and demand its end.

 

 

“Let Us Raise the Voice of Peace”

Arife Arslan also explained that the call for “Peace and Democratic Society” launched by Abdullah Öcalan on 27 February 2025 was addressed to all peoples of the Middle East in order to build genuine peace and democratic life.

“This call is not limited to the Kurdish people alone but includes the entire region,” she said, stressing that if its principles are implemented, stability and reassurance could prevail across the Middle East.

She added that the Kurdish people should adhere to this call and work to spread it, noting that war does not only destroy humans but affects all forms of life.

“We aspire to peace, freedom, and security for the peoples of the Middle East, and we call for uniting the human conscience around these values. Let us raise the voice of peace and freedom.”

 

“Peace Is an Essential Necessity for Women and Children”

Adiba Babur, a member of the municipal council of Shakh (Çatak), stressed that wars are driven by a patriarchal mentality and carried out by occupying powers, expressing her firm rejection of this “dirty war” and the need to put an end to it.

She added that “women and children deserve a free and dignified life,” noting that launching any peace process would represent a crucial step for the Middle East and the world.

She emphasized that achieving lasting peace requires everyone to take a supportive stance for peace, because “peace is the most essential and urgent need for women and children.”