Male dominance in local governments in Turkey and Kurdistan began to transform with the Kurdish Women's Movement appearing more as a "political subject" in the public sphere after the 1990s. Women, who are undoubtedly the most dynamic structure of the Kurdish political movement, broke a revolutionary first in the history of Turkey and the world by transforming the gains they created at great costs into the "co-chair" system in the local areas. This struggle, which played a leading role in the country, contributed to the achievement of important gains in the struggle for women's freedom. This system, which ensures the visibility of women in local governments, strengthened the place of women in society, whose life is limited to the neighborhood and house in which they reside. As women decided and had a say in their own lives, they became stronger, and as they became stronger, they won and began to not bow down.

 

CHANGE STEP BY STEP

 

While the first municipal elections in Turkey in which women participated were held in 1930, the situation in local areas began to change with Kurd women. While 3 women mayors were elected from the People's Democracy Party (HADEP) in the 1999 elections, 9 from the Democratic People's Party (DEHAP) in the 2004 elections, and 15 from the Democratic Society Party (DTP) in the 2009 local elections, the number of women municipal council members increased. The 30 March 2014 Local Elections were a turning point in women's struggle for equality and freedom. Equal representation was achieved in 96 of the 102 municipalities gained through the co-chair system, which completely changed local politics. Thus, within the municipalities where women have a say, life and support centers, violence hotlines were established, and the lives of all women in the society began to be contacted through women's directorates and women's desk units. 

 

SOLUTIONS TO WOMEN'S PROBLEMS ARE PROVIDED

 

Women, who strengthened both their local organization and their gains, fought against violence against women and children with more than 50 institutions and centers where they operate. Legal and psychological consultancy services were provided. Women's participation in living spaces was ensured through cooperative and employment projects. Women exposed to violence were secured and directed to shelters. Training was provided to ensure gender equality. Nurseries were opened to enable women to participate in employment and different areas of life. Courses, cooperatives and textile workshops were established in line with the demands of women living in the neighborhood. Greenhouse and organic agriculture production was carried out within the municipalities. Women's production was put on the market through neighborhood markets. Again, laundries, carpet washing areas and tandoori houses were opened, making women's daily lives easier.

 

8 WOMEN CO-CHAIRS ARE IMPRISONED

 

However, women's struggle to transform the system was faced with the concept of attack after two years. Within the scope of the State of Emergency (OHAL) declared by the decision of the Council of Ministers meeting on 20 July 2016, trustees were appointed to 96 of the 102 municipalities won by the Democratic Regions Party (DBP) in the 2014 local elections, in the process that started with the Decree Law (KHK) published on 11 September 2016. was appointed. As soon as the trustees took office, one of their first actions was regarding women's gains. Women's centers, shelters, living spaces, parks and cooperatives were closed. The centers that were not closed were completely rendered dysfunctional. Arrangements made in the administrative structure such as women's directorate and women's department were canceled. Not only were the centers closed, but the woman's name on the signs was erased and her visibility was tried to be destroyed under the name of the family. Some working women were dismissed, some were assigned to more passive positions, and the documents of women who applied to counseling centers were confiscated. 35 of the 96 women co-chairs were either detained or arrested. 15 co-mayors, 5 of whom are women, are still imprisoned in different prisons. 

Women, who did not give up on their gains despite the attacks, took back many municipalities from the trustees in the Local Elections of March 31, 2019, held by the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP). HDP won a total of 65 municipalities in the elections, including 3 metropolitan municipalities, 5 provinces, 45 districts and 12 towns, but 6 co-mayors were not given a certificate of election on the grounds that they were "under a statutory decree" and trustees were appointed to 59 of them. Including the municipalities that changed hands, only 5 municipalities remained with HDP. Trustees appointed 4 months after the elections canceled many projects that were started. 72 co-mayors were detained, 20 of them women 39 co-mayors were arrested, and a total of 7 co-mayors, 3 of them women, are still imprisoned.

 

WOMEN ARE DETERMINED TO HAVE A NEW LIFE

 

Women, who are expected to be left without a solution and interlocutor at the local level by trustees, are now preparing for the elections on March 31, 2024. Despite all the tendencies, women continue on their way, determined to rebuild life and society within a democratic framework with the women's libertarian, democratic and ecological paradigm.